Objective:
• Mānuka honey contains unique components. Among the components, methylglyoxal (MGO) is expected to have beneficial effects, in particular, antibacterial activity.
• Leptosperin (methyl syringate 4-O-β-D-gentiobioside) is exclusively found in mānuka honey, and the quantification of leptosperin applies to authentication of mānuka honey.
• A set of markers for mānuka honey authentication by the Ministry for Primary Industries (NZ) consists of four chemicals, phenyllactic acid (PLA), 4- hydroxyphenyllactic acid (4HPA), 4-methoxybenzoic acid (MBA), and 2ʼ- methoxyacetophenone (MAP). Of these, MAP is specifically found in the nectar of manuka, Leptospermum scoparium.
• Honey is utilized as one ingredient in a candy or a gummi, which is heated for the production. The aim of this study is to know heat fragile chemicals in mānuka honey and also to make clear the mechanism of the loss.
