Analytical Stability Monitoring and Multivariate Characterization of 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic Acid in Royal Jelly: A Method-Driven Approach to Physicochemical Homeostasis

The quality of royal jelly (RJ) is traditionally assessed through static chemical parameters, yet its intra-seasonal biochemical variation remains poorly understood. This study systematically characterizes the influence of harvest timing on the physicochemical profile and 10-HDA content of RJ produced by Apis mellifera . An analytical framework was employed to monitor four primary quality markers: moisture, pH, titratable acidity, and trans -10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) across early, mid, and late harvest periods. Multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to evaluate the seasonal fingerprints of the samples. Our results suggest that the harvest period is associated with variations in RJ’s biochemical signature. While pH and moisture content remained homeostatically stable, 10-HDA and titratable acidity showed significant intra-seasonal fluctuations. Specifically, 10-HDA levels were highest during early-season harvests and exhibited a measurable decline as the production season progressed. These findings suggest that fixed reference ranges in current standards, such as ISO 12824:2016, may not fully capture the natural diversity of RJ throughout the harvest cycle. This research provides a data-driven foundation for authenticity verification and quality management, supporting the potential for harvest-period-adjusted benchmarks in the royal jelly market.