honey is primarily composed of fructose (33-43%), glucose (25-35%), sucrose (0.2-2%) and water (17-20%) but also contains other substances which can have anti-oxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions such as:
phenolic plant compounds (2–42 mg GAE/100g)
non-flavonoids like hydroxybenzoic acid comprise 90% of phenolic in MH
2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid
gallic acid
ellagic acid, caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids
flavonoids (e.g., hespereti, kaempferol, and quercetin)
amino acids (0.2–0.4%)
minerals (0.1–0.5%)
enzymes
organic acids (0.2–0.8%)
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
methylglyoxal (MG)
vitamins
honey’s composition varies depending on factors such as botanical source, geographical location, and environmental conditions
with its high sugar concentrations, acidic pH, and bioactive content, honey prevents microbial growth and wound infection and promotes tissue repair and can inhibit multi-drug-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
antimicrobial mechanisms in honey are either peroxide- or non-peroxide-based.
peroxide-based honey converts glucose to gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide by glucose oxidase.
non-peroxide-based honey like MH relies on polyphenols and the formation of methylglyoxal, which suppresses glucose peroxidase activity
pure honey produced by honeybees in New Zealand that primarily feed on the Manuka shrub (Leptospermum scoparium)
it is a non-peroxide-based honey
as with OLH, it contains pinocembrin-glucoside
has ten times as much phenolic content as OLH but these are variable
also contains the flavonoids apigenin-glucoside, quercetin-glucoside, and quercetin which are not found in OLH
has a high content of methyl-syringic acid, which protects DNA from oxidative damage
Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF)-dependent antimicrobial activity of Mānuka honey against respiratory pathogens cannot be explained by sugar and methylglyoxal alone1)
Ohia Lehua honey (OLH)
produced in the Ka’u district of Hawaii’s Big Island from honeybees feeding on Metrosiderospolymorpha blossoms
has high in vivo antioxidant activity, primarily achieved by reducing serum oxidant activity
prevents lipid peroxidation, reduces oxidative stress, and increases antioxidant capacity rather than inhibiting NO and protein oxidation pathways