Fagomine occurrence in African honey

Iminosugars are polyhydyroxyalkaloids in which the oxygen ring of the monosacharride is replaced with a nitrogen. They have been isolated from many different natural sources including buckwheat, cucumber and potatoes. The stereochemical diversity of hydroxylation patterns gives them often potent pharmacological activity primarily as a result of enzyme inhibition which gives them potential for broad application in managing diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis and other conditions. They can also interact with receptors for biological activities. In the recent past, African honey has been found to contain causarine and a proprietary version is being marketed as iminohoney to boost immune response and promote healthy aging in animals and humans.

In this study we set out to investigate the presence of iminosugars in honey samples collected in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. An iminosugar internal reference (castanospermine) was added into honey samples prior to cation exchange being used to remove the nitrogen-containing components from the sugars and most flavonoids. GC-MS was used to determine iminosugars in the cation exchange resin retained components. Of the 16 samples, the majority showed the presence of fagomine or fagomine glycosides and none had causarine. This is the first time that fagomine is being reported in honey. Further studies to formulate and test honey samples in in vivo diabetes and osteoarthritis models will be initiated to further understand efficacy of African honey.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023