The unique component of Manuka honey, methylglyoxal (MGO), was discovered by Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi, who won the Nobel Prize for his  discovery of vitamin C and his research on scurvy. This substance is present in the cells of all living organisms and is considered to play  a key role in controlling physiological processes.

■Reference:　About MGO　 – Strong MANUKA HONEY

Although the antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey has been known for a long time, the exact components responsible for this activity remained  a mystery for many years. However, recent research has finally identified methylglyoxal (MGO) as the key substance. MGO works on old, unnecessary, or abnormal cells, inducing them to undergo apoptosis(cell death), which is a toxic process that forces these cells to self-destruct.  This substance is present in all living cells, and each cell is equipped to produce it in response to abnormal  behavior, ensuring that cells with harmful functions are eliminated. This mechanism helps maintain homeostasis, the system that restores balance  to various fluctuations within the organism.
However, all living organisms experience a decline in biological activity over time. In humans, as we age, the production of MGO decreases,  which leads to the accumulation of old cells that are not renewed. In the worst case, these cells can become cancerous. To maintain life,  it is essential to continually produce new cells, which involves copying the information (DNA) from the original cells to create new ones. During this process, DNA transcription occurs, but errors in copying can lead to the formation of abnormal cells. It is crucial to eliminate these  abnormal cells without affecting the surrounding healthy cells. This vital function is increasingly understood to be performed by MGO.