Chemical and bioactive compound profiling of Kurdish honey: First quantitative assessment of dihydroxyacetone, methylglyoxal, and antioxidant markers

Honeys from Iraqi Kurdistan have not previously been characterized for the α-dicarbonyl markers dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and methylglyoxal (MGO). This study reports the first quantitative profiling of DHA, MGO, and antioxidant markers in 49 Kurdish honey samples (Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Halabja; 2024 harvest), benchmarked against a UMF-certified New Zealand manuka honey. Physicochemical parameters, HMF, TPC, and DPPH radical-scavenging activity were determined for all samples; DHA and MGO were quantified by validated RP-HPLC after o-phenylenediamine derivatization in 20 samples. Kurdish honeys showed median ~83 °Brix, pH 3.78–6.00, and EC 89–1357 µS/cm. Over 20% exceeded the Codex 40 mg/kg HMF limit. TPC (0.0221–0.1020 g GAE/100 g) and DPPH (25.3–83.0%) were uncorrelated (r = 0.13, p = 0.39), indicating non-phenolic antioxidant contributions. MGO ranged 99–884 mg/kg (19 samples) and DHA 97–566 mg/kg (Kurdish samples); the manuka reference contained 1495 mg/kg MGO and >2000 mg/kg DHA. DHA and MGO were uncorrelated within Kurdish samples (r = 0.20, p = 0.42); however, 61% showed DHA: MGO ratios <0.5, consistent with an aged-maturation profile rather than active DHA-to-MGO conversion. No bioactivity assays were performed; direct antibacterial testing is identified as the priority for future studies.