Applied Discriminant Analysis

Comparative metabolite profiling and fingerprinting of medicinal licorice roots using a multiplex approach of GC-MS, LC-MS and 1D NMR techniques.

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods: part II.

Fruits produce a wide range of volatile organic compounds that impart their characteristically distinct aromas and contribute to unique flavor characteristics. Fruit aroma and flavor characteristics are of key importance in determining consumer acceptance in commercial fruit markets based on individual preference. Fruit producers, suppliers and retailers traditionally utilize and rely on human testers or panels to evaluate fruit quality and aroma characters for assessing fruit salability in fresh markets. We explore the current and potential utilization of electronic-nose devices (with specialized sensor arrays), instruments that are very effective in discriminating complex mixtures of fruit volatiles, as new effective tools for more efficient fruit aroma analyses to replace conventional expensive methods used in fruit aroma assessments. We review the chemical nature of fruit volatiles during all stages of the agro-fruit production process, describe some of the more important applications that electronic nose (e-nose) technologies have provided for fruit aroma characterizations, and summarize recent research providing e-nose data on the effectiveness of these specialized gas-sensing instruments for fruit identifications, cultivar discriminations, ripeness assessments and fruit grading for assuring fruit quality in commercial markets.

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Electronic-nose applications for fruit identification, ripeness and quality grading.

Traditional herbal medicines have been reported to possess significant bioactivities. In this investigation, a combined strategy using both phytochemical and biological approaches was conducted to discern the effective components of licorice, a widely used herbal medicine. Altogether, 122 compounds (1–122), including six new structures (1–6), were isolated and identified from the roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice). These compounds were then screened using 11 cell- and enzyme-based bioassay methods, including Nrf2 activation, NO inhibition, NF-κB inhibition, H1N1 virus inhibition, cytotoxicity for cancer cells (HepG2, SW480, A549, MCF7), PTP1B inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, and AChE inhibition. A number of bioactive compounds, particularly isoprenylated phenolics, were found for the first time. Echinatin (7), a potent Nrf2 activator, was selected as an example for further biological work. It attenuated CCl4-induced liver damage in mice (5 or 10 mg/kg, ip) and thus is responsible, at...

Bioactive Constituents of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice): Discovery of the Effective Components of a Traditional Herbal Medicine

Metabolic profiling of roots of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from different geographical areas by ESI/MS/MS and determination of major metabolites by LC-ESI/MS and LC-ESI/MS/MS.

The potential of e-nose aroma profiling for identifying the geographical origin of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) roots.

The paper reports the qualitative and quantitative composition and its antifungal activities of Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. & Link, Lamiaceae, essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of plants collected in Calabria, Southern Italy. The essential oils of 22 samples were analysed by GC-Flame ionization detection and GC/MS. A total of sixty five compounds were identified. Phenols were present in highest percentage (average: 79,03%). Carvacrol was the main component (81,52%-78,40%) in all samples, confirming that T. capitatus is a carvacrol chemotype, according to literature data for this species. This essential oil was also characterized by high level of biogenetic precursor of the phenols: p-cimene (4,98%), γ-terpinene (3,13%) and by β-cariophyllene, were the most abundant sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Antifungal activity against Sclerotium cepivorum Berk., a soil born fungus, was tested. At the concentration of 250 ppm there was no development of fungal mycelium. To our knowledge, studies have never been conducted on Calabria wild populations of T. capitatus essential oil nor were conducted studies on parasitic fungi of specific interest for crops such as Sclerotium cepivorum.

Essential oil chemical composition and antifungal effects on Sclerotium cepivorum of Thymus capitatus wild populations from Calabria, southern Italy

The quality of an essential oil is determined by its composition as well as by the complex aroma features. The aim of this work was to analyze the effectiveness of electronic nose (e-nose) systems to detect quality and genuineness of bergamot essential oils (BEOs). Tested methods included volatile analysis with the e-nose based on metal-oxide semiconductor sensors and analysis of chemical composition of essential oil by chromatography (GC/FID, GC/MS). The paper reports preliminary results on the potential of an e-nose to discriminate natural cold-pressed bergamot oil (BEO C-P) from those deterpenated and bergapten-free; between samples obtained from different cultivars; from samples obtained from fruit grown in the Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) area and those outside the PDO; and finally from synthetic essential oils (SEO). This feasibility study has confirmed that an e-nose demonstrates the ability to supply a concrete support to BEO quality control. The e-noses, with subsequent DFA treatment of...

Effectiveness of electronic nose systems to detect bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau) essential oil quality and genuineness

Nutritional and bioactive molecules are some of essential parameters for evaluation of fruit quality. Figs (Ficus carica L.) are a widespread species commonly grown, especially in warm, dry climates and it is an important crop worldwide for dry and fresh consumption. As a seasonal food, ﬁgs represent an important constituent of the Mediterranean diet. Calabria region (South of Italy) and particularly PDO district that falls within the Cosenza province, is an important area of figs cultivation and above all for the traditional skill in dried figs production. These figs are traded as dried fruits, paste and added with other ingredients. In this study the variability of chemical attributes (sugars, organic acids, total phenolic, fibre and vitamins) was determined in 25 production lots of dried figs from PDO district, dried figs from outside the PDO area and foreign. Chromatographic, spectrophotometric and gravimetric analysis has been used to determine dried figs composition. The results showed a very high quality of Calabrian dried figs. They also show that dried figs are a good source of soluble fiber (25% DRI) and carbohydrate (38% DRI) and also are an important source of vitamins. The organic acids and phenolics contents detected in dried figs showed a high content of these nutritionally important compounds.

S. Postorino

Papers

Metabolic profiling of roots of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from different geographical areas by ESI/MS/MS and determination of major metabolites by LC-ESI/MS and LC-ESI/MS/MS.

The potential of e-nose aroma profiling for identifying the geographical origin of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) roots.

Essential oil chemical composition and antifungal effects on Sclerotium cepivorum of Thymus capitatus wild populations from Calabria, southern Italy

Effectiveness of electronic nose systems to detect bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau) essential oil quality and genuineness

Quality and nutritional composition of dried figs: a traditional calabria region (italy) product