title: Infrared spectroscopy as a rapid tool to detect methylglyoxal and antibacterial activity in Australian honeys.
abstract: Methylglyoxal (2-oxopropanal) is a compound known to contribute to the non-peroxide antimicrobial activity of honeys. The feasibility of using infrared spectroscopy as a predictive tool for honey antibacterial activity and methylglyoxal content was assessed. A linear relationship was found between methylglyoxal content (279-1755 mg/kg) in Leptospermum polygalifolium honeys and bacterial inhibition for Escherichiacoli (R(2) = 0.80) and Staphylococcusaureus (R(2) = 0.64). A good prediction of methylglyoxal (R(2) 0.75) content in honey was achieved using spectroscopic data from the mid infrared (MIR) range in combination with partial least squares regression. These results indicate that robust predictive equations could be developed using MIR for commercial application where the prediction of bacterial inhibition is needed to 'value' honeys with methylglyoxal contents in excess of 200mg/kg.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition and Food Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: y.sultanbawa@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Yasmina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sultanbawa
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
authors.affiliation: Innovative Food Solutions and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: Innovative Food Solutions and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cusack
authors.affiliation: Innovative Food Solutions and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition and Food Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001315:Australia; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Honey; Infrared spectroscopy; Methylglyoxal