Chemical analysis of sugars found in manna of Iraq Dr. Widad M. K. Al-Ani Esam Abdulraheem and Ibrahim Wayyes College of Pharmacy Al-Mustansiriyah University

Manna or من السما Manna is the sticky sweet exudate that gathered on the oak tree (Quercus) in Sulamania (north of Iraq). The exudates form after insect attached on the tree. Manna is mixed with white part of egg to prepare the sweet called Mann-asama (means edible food from heaven). The crude manna has a greenish- brown color figure 1 Other type (European, Fraxinus) and Egyptian in sinai (tamarisk) ree

Aims The aim of this study is to analyze the sugar of manna using the modern technique GC/MS. The benefit of this study is to focus on the sweet taste of manna which can be used by diabetic patient or by a person who wants to decrease their weights. Some of monosaccharide did not increase blood sugar, because it is absorbed at a slower rate than glucose and is not readily converted to glycogen for storage. Some of them exerted unchanged. Manna of Spain used as sweetener from long time ago because of very low glycemic index. Traditionally crude manna of Iraq did not increase blood sugar and it has antiseptic activity and it improve mental ability. In hadith treatment of eye

Types of sweeteners Artificial sweeteners)) 1-Synthetics CYCLIHEXYL-AMIDE-SULFINATE  Types of sweeteners Artificial sweeteners)) 1-Synthetics Cyclametes:(sulfonyl amide derivatives) prohibited in USA since 1969 Saccharine (Sweet'N Low) Acesulfame potassium Nutrasweet ( Aspartame, amino acid derivative) These sweeteners are prohibited in many countries. In others they used as mixture (small amount of each).

Semisynthetic sweeteners -Sucralose (Splenda) : It is a chlorinated zero calories sucrose.  Approved by the FDA in 1999. Sucralose has no toxic or carcinogenic effects  and posses no neurological risks. A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health (2013), found even further disturbing news about Splenda, besides weight gain, sucralose reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent. The study concludes that splenda is not biologically inert compound)

Natural sweeteners Mannose C2 epimers of glucose- Fraxinus ornus L: Is the source of manna, an oxidised dried exudate from the bark of young tree. It has been used as sweetener in Spain as I mentioned. -Sorbitol, Mannitol and xylitol (low calories sugar alcohol -Stevia (diterpene (steviol as a glycoside) Approved by FDA's due to its being a natural substance in wide use well before 1958.

mixed synthetic sorbitol+sucralose sucralose+aspartame Stevia extract+sorbitol Aspartame+acesulfame Sucralose+ maltdextrin Steviol+dextrin

Materials and Methods The exudates from oak tree were gathered from Sulamaniya (north of Iraq). The crude substance was dissolved in water and subjected to GC/MS analysis. Shimadzu GC-MS conditions for investigation of manna sugar were: the carrier gas was helium, the injection volume was 1µL, and split ratio was 2.0. Injection temperature: 250 C. Column temperature: from 80 C and rose up to 310 C at a rate of 10 oC/min.

Results and discussion Analysis of the sample revealed the presence of the following sugars

  Bacteriostatic and Fungicide 3,4-Anhydrohexopyranose Continue

antibacterial activity Continue antibacterial activity

Recommendation Manna exudate contains many sugars and sugar derivatives which has low glycemic index and did not increase the blood sugar level Use natural sweeteners only Read the label before buying the sweeteners Avoid excessive use of sweeteners For baking use either splenda or stevia