Cara &Tom Patterson wrote: > http://www.apis.admin.ch/english/pdf/BeeProducts/AntibacterialInternet_e.pdf The Hive and the Honey Bee notes that different floral sources have different concentrations of sucrose in nectar. The same occurs with the amount of water available to the same floral sources. More water, less concentrated. The article notes that the antibacterial activity of honey (excluding the supersaturated sugar solution effects) is due to the bee and not necessarily the floral source as far as the peroxide component. But the acid content does make a difference (not the ph). It also noted that there were differences in activity in the same floral source. The hive and the Honey Bee also notes that the addition of enzymes to honey by the bee and the amount of transformation of the honey by the enzymes is directly related to the concentration of sugar in the nectar. The more concentrated, the less time the enzymes have to work on the nectar. The article also notes that just plain sugar water gives the same peroxide component and concentration as floral honey. Given all that, maybe the difference in antibacterial action by different honeys is more the concentration of the nectar than anything else. If the nectar is "thin" then the enzymes added to the nectar by the bee have more time to work and concentrations of antibacterial agents is higher. That results in higher acid content and glucose oxidaise (the peroxide component which is also an acid component). From a purely practical observation, this makes sense, because you would want the most protection during the time the nectar is being concentrated until it, by being a saturated sugar solution, can stand on its own. If the nectar is thin, without the added protection, the nectar could spoil. It is obvious that one function of the added enzymes (there are probably a lot more functions that we do not know about) is to keep the product pure in all parts of its time in the hive. The more we learn about bees the more amazing they are. Bill Truesdell Bath, Maine :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::