Maple Syrup Chock Full of Antioxidants

KINGSTON, R.I.University of Rhode Island researcher Navindra Seeram has found more than 20 compounds in maple syrup from Canada that have been linked to human health, 13 of which are newly discovered in maple syrup. In addition, eight of the compounds have been found in the Acer (maple) family for the first time. Several of the antioxidant compounds newly identified in maple syrup also are reported to have anticancer, antibacterial and antidiabetic properties.

Seeram found phenolics, the beneficial class of antioxidant compounds also found in berries. He speculated that the sugar maple is wounded when it is tapped for its sap, and that it secretes phenolics as a defense mechanism.

He said the sap probably has low concentrations of these native phenolics. But when you boil the sap down, there could be higher levels because syrup is a highly concentrated liquid. Plus, the natural plant bioactives could remain intact or undergo process-induced chemical changes during the heating process resulting in further derived bioactive compounds.