Manuka honey is used medicinally as a wound-healing dressing and possesses antibacterial bioactivities.
It also possesses immunomodulating properties, comprising both anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating
activities. At present its active components have not been identified. Given the importance of
manuka honey as a therapeutic, we performed high-resolution Fourier-transform mass spectrometry
analysis, in order to gain an insight into its complex make-up, as well as examining other honeys derived
from different floral origins and storage conditions. Our analyses show that manuka-derived honeys contain
unique compounds, particularly in the high molecular weight range, compared to other honeys from
other floral species. Storage conditions also directly impact on the molecular composition. An archetypal
mother molecule specific to manuka honey was identified that may serve as a precursor store for free
3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid and provide a means of fingerprinting manuka honeys