Leptosperin Explained

Leptosperin (originally but no longer "leptosin") is a bioactive component of Mānuka honey. It is the gentiobiose glycoside of syringic acid methyl ester. It is named for the genus Leptospermum, the shrubs from which bees harvest nectar to make this type of honey.^[1] This bioactive component is the source of antibacterial property of Manuka honey^[2] or other Leptospermum species derived honey.^[3]

Leptosperin content can be used as a marker for the quality of the honey.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Kato . Yoji . Umeda . Natsuki . Maeda . Asuna . Matsumoto . Daiki . Kitamoto . Noritoshi . Kikuzaki . Hiroe . Identification of a Novel Glycoside, Leptosin, as a Chemical Marker of Manuka Honey . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry . 4 April 2012 . 60 . 13 . 3418–3423 . 10.1021/jf300068w. free .
2. Kato . Yoji . Kawai . Masaki . Kawai . Shota . Okano . Yayako . Rokkaku . Natsumi . Ishisaka . Akari . Murota . Kaeko . Nakamura . Toshiyuki . Nakamura . Yoshimasa . Ikushiro . Shinichi . Dynamics of the Cellular Metabolism of Leptosperin Found in Manuka Honey . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry . 2 October 2019 . 67 . 39 . 10853–10862 . 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b03894.
3. Bong . Jessie . Prijic . Gordana . Braggins . Terry J. . Schlothauer . Ralf C. . Stephens . Jonathan M. . Loomes . Kerry M. . Leptosperin is a distinct and detectable fluorophore in Leptospermum honeys . Food Chemistry . 1 January 2017 . 214 . 102–109 . 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.07.018 . 27507454 . 1873-7072.
4. 10.1007/s13197-021-05181-7 . The super-food Manuka honey, a comprehensive review of its analysis and authenticity approaches . 2022 . Hegazi . Nesrine M. . Elghani . Ghada E. Abd . Farag . Mohamed A. . Journal of Food Science and Technology . 59 . 7 . 2527–2534 . 35734106 . 9206949 .