Novel Antioxidant Compound in Maple Syrup Identified

As a natural plant extract, maple syrup has been found to contain many beneficial compounds such as polyphenols.  A novel phenolic compound, known as quebecol, in addition to 23 naturally derived phenolics belonging to lignan, coumarin, stilbene, and phenolic acid sub-classes, have been identified in maple syrup. “Published studies have shown that maple syrup extracts have antioxidant, antimutagenic, and human cancer cell antiproliferative properties …To this end, our laboratory has embarked on a collaborative project to comprehensively identify the chemical constituents in maple syrup,” remarked lead study author Navindra Seeram, from University of Rhode Island (Rhode Island, USA).