Melezitose, also spelled melicitose, is a nonreducing trisaccharide sugar that is produced by many plant sap eating insects, including aphids such as Cinara pilicornis by an enzyme reaction. This is beneficial to the insects, as it reduces the stress of osmosis by reducing their own water potential. The melezitose is part of the honeydew which acts as an attractant for ants and also as a food for bees. This is useful to the lice as they have a symbiotic relationship with ants. Melezitose can be partially hydrolyzed to glucose and turanose the latter of which is an isomer of sucrose.
Source: Wikipedia
In 2002, many beekeepers from southern Poland, the Holy Cross Mountains area and from the Krasnik region were surprised by the presence of crystallized honey in honeycombs. In order to upgrade our understanding of the above-mentioned phenomenon tests were run the aim of which was to learn about the chemical composition of “cement” honey and to compare the composition of that honey with honey derived from typical coniferous honeydew. Organoleptic properties, water content, acidity, electrical conductivity, as well as qualitative and quantitative sugar composition (HPLC method) were tested in samples of “cement” honey and in samples of honeydew honey from typical conifer honeydew, most of the time fir honeydew.
The results from the tests showed that “cement” honey when compared with typical conifer honeydew honey was characterized by a 10 times higher content of melezitose averaging 23% and with a content of simple sugars reduced by 1/3, 40%, on average. “Cement” honey also showed high electrical conductivity, 1.5 mS/cm on average. The main reason behind the rapid crystallization of “cement” honey was its exceptional composition, and primarily a very high melezitose content.
Source: Journal of Apicultural Science
Melezitose
Chromatogram(s) using Benson Polymeric Columns
Part No.:
Eluent:
Flow Rate:
Detection:
Temperature:
Sample Size:
Column Size:
Resin Type:
DI H2O
0.5 ml/min
RI
85 C
20 ul, 30 mg/ml
300 x 7.8 mm
6% Ca
2 – Maltose
3 – Glucose
4 – Mannose
5 – Fructose
6 – Ribitol
Part No.:
Eluent:
Flow Rate:
Detection:
Temperature:
Sample Size:
Column Size:
Resin Type:
DI H2O
0.6 ml/min
RI
85 C
20 ul, 30 mg/ml
300 x 7.8 mm
8% Ca
2 – Maltose
3 – Glucose
4 – Mannose
5 – Fructose
6 – Ribitol
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