Quantitative NMR spectroscopy for the rapid measurement of methylglyoxal in manuka honey

Abstract

The accurate and rapid measurement of methylglyoxal in honey at concentrations applicable to those found in manuka honey using qNMR is reported. The qNMR method gave comparable results to those obtained by derivatisation of methylglyoxal with ortho-phenylenediamine and subsequent LC-MS or LC-UV detection. Uniquely, the qNMR method is performed directly on the diluted honey without chromatographic separation, sample derivatisation or generation of a calibration series.