The oligosaccharide composition of some New Zealand honeys

The oligosaccharide fraction of samples of manuka (Leptospermum), heather ( Calluna), clover (Trifolium) and beech honeydew (Nothofagus) honeys from Ne w Zealand was separated from the monosaccharides and then analysed by high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detectio n (hpaec-pad). Significant oligosaccharide components of manuka honey were isomaltose (or maltulose), kojibiose, turanose (or gentiobiose), nigerose a nd maltose which was the major component. The composition of clover honey w as identical to that of manuka, while heather honey differed from these two only because isomaltose was the major component. Beech honeydew honey was characterised by the complexity of the oligosaccharide composition. The tri saccharides melezitose and panose were the most abundant components. No dif ferences were observed between the oligosaccharide compositions of manuka h oneys which did or did not exhibit non-peroxide residual antibacterial acti vity. Manuka honey was shown to be derived from nectar and not honeydew as has been suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.