Competitive immunochromatographic assay for leptosperin as a plausible authentication marker of manuka honey

Manuka honey is known as one of the premium honeys because of its unique property: a potent antibacterial activity. Leptosperin, methyl syringate 4-O-β-d-gentiobioside, has been specifically identified in manuka honey. Because leptosperin is relatively stable under warmer conditions, measuring leptosperin levels may be applied to authenticate manuka honey. In this study, an immunochromatographic separation and quantification of leptosperin techniques have been developed. The concentration of leptosperin measured by immunochromatography was significantly correlated with the concentration measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Because the immunochromatographic method is rapid and reliable, it could be applied to on-site quality control or inspection of honey samples by a beekeeper, a manufacturer, an inspector, a retailer, or a consumer.