Conference presentation
Organic solutions for a sticky problem
USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2014
Abstract
Background: What is the issue? Premium honeys from Australia and New Zealand, in particular honey derived from the Leptospermum species Manuka and Jellybush, retail for high prices on the international and domestic market due to their high bioactivity. However, these honeys are increasingly being counterfeited or substituted with cheaper imitations. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop robust analytical protocols for authenticating the floral source of honeys. This will provide market protection for the beekeepers and the consumers. Research questions? Can chromatographic profiles of phenolic and volatile compounds in Australian and New Zealand honeys be used to authenticate the floral source? Do the phenolic compounds in honey contribute to the biological properties, including anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory? Which honey types and phenolic compounds within the honey have the greatest bioactivity? Methods: How was research performed? Volatile and phenolic compounds are currently being chemically fingerprinted using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Preparative chromatography of the phenolic extract has commenced to isolate compounds from honeys. The anti-bacterial activity of the purified phenolic extracts in the honeys is currently being investigated, using a well diffusion assay against Staphylococcus aureus. The anti-inflammatory properties of the purified phenolic extracts in the honeys will be investigated, in particular the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase and leukotriene B4. Research findings: Unique biomarker compounds are currently being identified for a range of honey samples that have been analysed. Mislabelled commercial honeys have been identified. All of the phenolic extracts from the honey samples inhibited Staphylococcus aureus. All honeys and the fractioned compound methyl syringate, common to all of the analysed honeys, have shown inhibition of the pro-inflammatory 5-LOX enzyme, indicating potential anti-inflammatory activity.
Details
- Title
- Organic solutions for a sticky problem
- Authors
- Daniel Meloncelli (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Additional notes
- Winner of Best HDR Presentation - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
- Conference details
- USC Research Conference, 2014 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 14-Jul-2014–18-Jul-2014)
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2014
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2014 The Author.
- Organisation Unit
- Student Services and Engagement
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448979202621
- Output Type
- Conference presentation
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