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Molecular Signal Processing
Bioorganic Chemistry
Biochemistry of Plant Interactions
Cell and Metabolic Biology
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Quantitative NMR metabolomics approach was developed to distinguish two cinnamon species (Ceylon Cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum and Chinese Cinnamon, Cinnamomum cassia) that are interchangeably used in food products. The results of the analyses of 10 bark accessions revealed for 9 key sensory metabolites, with (E)-cinnamaldehyde as the major form. Multivariate data analyses revealed for eugenol leading presence in C. verum versus fatty acid enrichment in C. cassia. This research provides the first NMR metabolites fingerprinting of the two major cinnamon resources. Compounds related to C. verum aroma and taste were identified and quantified that can be utilized as markers for the authentication of this valuable drug. Novel insight on metabolites mediating for C. verum antidiabetic effect is also presented.
Publications
Among most propagated and worldwide cacti used for commercial (food) production is Opuntia ficus-indica. The present study aimed at investigating aroma compound and metabolites distribution in cactus fruits from 3 cultivars (cvs): red ‘Rose’, yellow-orange ‘Gialla’ and greenish-white ‘Bianca’ represented by both its pulp and skin samples. Two methods were applied including UV-vis fingerprinting versus gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Betalains predominated in red fruits, whereas carotenoids and chlorophyll were more abundant in orange and green fruits, respectively, as revealed from their crude extracts UV absorption spectra. Volatiles were profiled using headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to GC-MS. 40 Volatiles were identified with short chain aldehydes (25–32%) and acids (25–29%) as the major volatile classes. Cultivars exhibited comparable aroma profiles suggesting that volatiles cannot serve as a chemical fingerprint to distinguish between cvs. Primary metabolites mediating for fruit taste and nutritional value viz. sugars and amino acid were profiled using GC-MS post silylation with 82 identified metabolites. Glucose (62%) and fructose (16%) were found to predominate sugar composition, whereas proline was the major amino acid (3–8%). Multivariate data analyses revealed for betalain and disaccharides enrichment i.e., turanose and sucrose in fruit skin versus proline, talopyranose and lyxopyranose abundance in pulp tissue.