Presence of some cyclitols in honey

Quercitol (1,3,4/2,5-cyclohexanepentol), pinitol (3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol), 1-O-methyl-muco-inositol and muco-inositol have been identified for the first time in edible honeys by GC–MS of their O-trimethylsilyl derivatives, using their Kovats indices and mass spectral data. Individual cyclitol content (including myo-inositol for comparison) was estimated by using phenyl-β-glucoside as internal standard. Myo-inositol and pinitol were present in the 28 examined honey samples; quercitol, methyl-muco-inositol and muco-inositol were only detected in some samples. The presence, in honey, of these compounds could be used to distinguish among honey types, since they probably are collected by bees from wild plants.