Manuka honey from New Zealand is often considered to be a medicinal product of special value due to its high level of antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the distinct authentication of its botanical origin is of great importance. Aside from the common pollen analysis, it is in this respect particularly the analysis of the phenolic acids, flavonoids, and norisoprenoids that is described as useful. In the present study, numerous manuka honeys were analyzed by UPLC-PDA-MS/MS after solid-phase extraction and compared to other kinds of honey to define marker substances characteristic for manuka honeys. The PDA profiles obtained differed markedly from each other so that the individual honey samples could be assigned to three groups. For the honeys of group 1 the comparably high concentrations of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, dehydrovomifoliol, and benzoic acid proved to be typical, whereas the profiles of group 2 showed high kojic acid and 2-methoxybenzoic acid intensities. The manuka honeys of group 3, on the other hand, yielded high amounts of syringic acid, 4-methoxyphenyllactic acid, and methyl syringate. Furthermore, the comprehensive comparison of manuka honeys to other unifloral honeys revealed that especially kojic acid, 5-methyl-3-furancarboxylic acid, leptosin, unedone, 2-methoxybenzoic acid, 4-methoxyphenyllactic acid, 3-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dione, and methyl syringate were useful for distinguishing manuka honeys from the other kinds of investigated honeys. Moreover, kojic acid, unedone, 5-methyl-3-furancarboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dione, and lumichrome were identified in manuka honey for the first time.

In the present study, pollen-identical pure manuka and kanuka honeys and an Australian jelly bush honey were analyzed for the nonvolatiles by UHPLC-PDA-MS/MS and for the volatiles by HS-SPME-GC/MS. A chromatographic profile matchup by means of characteristic marker compounds achieved a clear discrimination between manuka, kanuka, and jelly bush honey. UHPLC-PDA profiles of manuka honey show leptosin, acetyl-2-hydroxy-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanate, 3-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-penta-1,4-dione, kojic acid, 5-methyl-3-furancarboxylic acid, and two unknown compounds as prominent, kanuka honey was characterized by 4-methoxyphenyllactic acid, methyl syringate, p-anisic acid, and lumichrome. 2-Methylbenzofuran, 2'-hydroxyacetophenone, and 2'-methoxyacetophenone were markant volatiles for manuka honey, whereas kanuka honey was characterized by 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione, phenethyl alcohol, p-anisaldehyde, and an unknown compound in HS-SPME-GC/MS. The jelly bush honey differed from the manuka honey by higher contents of 2-methoxybenzoic acid and an individual unknown substance in the PDA profile and by lower intensities of 2'-methoxyacetophenone, higher concentrations of cis-linalool oxide, and 3,4,5-trimethylphenol in the HS-SPME-GC/MS profile.

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) honey can be characterized by a greenish yellow color and an intense flavor with a bitter aftertaste. Because cornflower honey contains only a limited amount of pollen for the verification of its floral origin, one objective was the characterization of its polyphenol and norisoprenoid contents to assign floral markers. Here, lumichrome (18.8-43.5 mg/kg), 7-carboxylumichrome, (Z/E)-3-oxo-retro-α-ionol, and 3-oxo-α-ionol appeared to be quite suitable for distinguishing cornflower honey from other unifloral honeys. Additionally, due to its comparably high hydrogen peroxide content (0.5-0.9 mM/h) and the associated antibacterial activity, cornflower honey was used as an alternative treatment of digital dermatitis on an organic dairy farm. Cows affected by this hoof disease often show severe lameness and a subsequent decline in milk yield and loss of body condition. The cows' hooves treated with cornflower honey showed significantly faster healing than the control group without any treatment.

-Certain phenolic acids and flavonoids are described in the literature as marker substances for several unifloral honeys. As not all authors utilised the same methods for extraction and determination, there are remarkable discrepancies in the published data concerning these substances. Ethyl acetate extracts which, aside from phenolic acids, also contain flavonoids were analysed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole/Time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). First, the mass spectra of 37 phenolic acids and flavonoids described in the literature were recorded. Consequently, sunflower honeys, lime honeys, clover honeys, rape honeys, and honeydew honeys were analysed in regard to these substances. By employing the ChromaLynx TM software, 34 of the 37 substances were identified quickly and clearly. By combining the retention time and the accurate molecular mass, it was even possible to identify several compounds which cannot be detected by diode array detection.flavonoids / honey / phenolic acids / Time of flight (TOF) / Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC)

BackgroundTo measure the content of cholesterol-raising diterpenes in coffee sold at the retailer level in Singapore, Indonesia and India and to determine the relationship of coffee consumption with lipid levels in a population-based study in Singapore.MethodsSurvey and cross-sectional study in local coffee shops in Singapore, Indonesia and India to measure the diterpene content in coffee, and a population-based study in Singapore to examine the relationship of coffee consumption and blood lipid levels. Interviews and coffee samples (n = 27) were collected from coffee shops in Singapore, Indonesia and India. In addition, 3000 men and women who were Chinese, Malay, and Indian residents of Singapore participated in a cross-sectional study.Results and DiscussionThe traditional 'sock' method of coffee preparation used in Singapore resulted in cafestol concentrations comparable to European paper drip filtered coffee (mean 0.09 ± SD 0.064 mg/cup). This amount would result in negligible predicted increases in serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Similarly low amounts of cafestol were found in Indian 'filter' coffee that used a metal mesh filter (0.05 ± 0.05 mg/cup). Coffee samples from Indonesia using the 'sock' method (0.85 ± 0.41 mg/cup) or a metal mesh filter (0.98 mg/cup) contained higher amounts of cafestol comparable to espresso coffee. Unfiltered coffee from Indonesia contained an amount of cafestol (4.43 mg/cup) similar to Scandinavian boiled, Turkish and French press coffee with substantial predicted increases in serum cholesterol (0.33 mmol/l) and triglycerides (0.20 mmol/l) concentrations for consumption of 5 cups per day. In the Singaporean population, higher coffee consumption was not substantially associated with serum lipid concentrations after adjustment for potential confounders [LDL-cholesterol: 3.07 (95% confidence interval 2.97-3.18) for <1 cup/week versus 3.12 (2.99-3.26) for ≥ 3 cups/day; p trend 0.12].ConclusionsBased on the low levels of diterpenes found in traditionally prepared coffee consumed in Singapore and India, coffee consumption in these countries does not appear to be a risk factor for elevation of serum cholesterol, whereas samples tested from Indonesia showed mixed results depending on the type of preparation method used.