Analysis of Bitter honey using gas chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Honey has been consumed by humans since ancient times. Honey contains volatile compounds like aldehyde, alcohol, ketone, hydrocarbon, terpenes, acids, benzene compounds. These compounds represent the fingerprint of monofloral honey there by providing information about the floral and geographical origin of honey. The volatile compounds present in honey not only contribute the aroma but also associated with the therapeutic activities of honey. In the present study, the GCMS/MS analysis of bitter honey was carried out to identify the presence of volatile compounds. This is the first study to determine the volatile compounds from ethyl acetate extract of bitter honey produced in the Nilgiri biosphere. Among the eighteen compounds detected, the majority of the compounds were reported to be therapeutically active. Hence further studies regarding the isolation of these compounds could be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases.