title: Analysis of the flavonoid component of bioactive New Zealand mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey and the isolation, characterisation and synthesis of an unusual pyrrole.
abstract: The flavonoid components of New Zealand mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey have been quantified in a series of 31 honeys of varying non-peroxide antibacterial activity to clarify discrepancies between previous studies reported in the literature. Total flavonoid content was 1.16 mg/100 g honey. The principal flavonoids present were pinobanksin, pinocembrin, luteolin and chrysin and together these represented 61% of the total flavonoid content. 1, 2-formyl-5-(2-methoxyphenyl)-pyrrole, which was weakly correlated with the non-peroxide antibacterial activity, was isolated from the flavonoid fraction and separately synthesised. 1 did not display inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and thus the origin of the correlation, which is still unknown, is not a direct contribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ching W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Deadman
authors.forename: Merilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manley-Harris
authors.forename: Alistair L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Dagmar G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Alber
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harry
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D031649:Leptospermum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D011758:Pyrroles
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Flavonoids; Mānuka honey; Pyrrole