Fernando Tateo

The Composition of Various Oils of Ocimum basilicum L.

ABSTRACT A comparison between the chemical composition of basil oils produced by distillation from fresh or dried leaves or extraction (using CH2Cl2 at 25°C) from frozen or dried leaves was made. Although 19 compounds were characterized by GC/MS, the linalool, estragole, and eugenol contents were found to vary from 26.6–50.0%, 0.4–45.1%, and 2.5–27.0%, respectively.

Basil Oil and Tarragon Oil: Composition and Genotoxicity Evaluation

ABSTRACT The chemical composition of an Italian oil of tarragon and two commercial oils of basil were examined by GC/MS. The oils, which were found to contain 19 known compounds, possessed estragole contents of 60%, 8.1% and 16.5%, respectively. The genotoxicity of each oil was evaluated by the Zimmermann test. The oil of tarragon was found to be genotoxic, but the two basil oils exhibited no sign of genotoxicity. The genotoxicity, or lack of it, could not be demonstrated clearly to have a direct relationship to the estragole content only.

Gas chromatography of safranal as preferable method for the commercial grading of saffron (Crocus sativus L.).

We present a new extraction protocol, using ethyl alcohol as a solvent, to evaluate safranal by gas chromatography (GC). A linear response was obtained with R(2)=0.995 and a reproducibility standard deviation of 4.7-6.0%. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.05 and 0.25gkg(-1), respectively. The GC data for several samples of powdered saffron from different origins were compared to specific absorbance values measured according to the ISO Normative 3632-1:2011 method. The aroma strength of saffron samples quantitated by GC and the specific absorbance values of safranal by the UV method did not correlate. Quantitative evaluation of safranal by GC appears to be more specific and useful for commercial comparisons of saffron quality.

Trichomes on vegetative and reproductive organs of Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae). Structure and secretory products

ABSTRACT Trichomes from vegetative and reproductive organs of Stevia rebaudiana were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with chemical and histochemical characterisation of the secretory product. Two types of non-glandular trichomes plus sunken glandular trichomes were found on the leaves. The reproductive organs differed from the leaves mainly for the presence of stalked glandular trichomes and of nonglandular twin hairs, the latter being restricted to the achenes. The secretion product is released in consequence of the rupture of the cuticular sheath along a line of weakness in the middle of the gland head. Glandular trichomes from both leaves and inflorescences gave similar responses to the histochemical tests, the secreted material being mostly lipophilic in both cases. HRGC/MS analysis of the essential oil revealed that sesquiterpenes were the most abundant class of compounds both in the leaves and in the inflorescences, although their quantity was six to seven times greater in the inflorescences than in the leaves. Spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide and non-oxygenated terpenes were also detected in the secretion.

Validation data for HPLC/FLD determinations of ochratoxin A in red paprika and black pepper adopting a one-step clean-up procedure

Validation data for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in two spice matrices, red paprika and black pepper, were obtained for samples prepared with a simplified single-step clean-up column. Extracts of finely ground samples of red paprika and black pepper were prepared and applied to a Mycosep® 229 Ochra clean-up column. The purified extract was then subjected to HPLC/FLD analysis. The relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) of the method was 11.8% for red paprika and 9.9% for black pepper. The limit of detection (LOD) value (three times the noise) was estimated as corresponding to the response of an extract derived from a blank matrix (previously washed) and spiked at 1.0 µg kg−1. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) (three times LOD) was 3.0 µg kg−1. The performance of the one-step column clean-up procedure appears to be a suitable alternative to commonly used clean-up techniques and allows the precise determination of OTA in two complex matrices.

Stabilization of cranberry anthocyanins in nutraceutical capsules

Anthocyanins can be considered spy-substances, useful in obtaining information regarding the shelf-life of food supplements containing cranberry juice or cranberry-derived extracts. The level of total anthocyanins, as evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detector and analytically expressed as cyanidin aglycone, represents a ‘quality index’ useful for routine estimation of shelf-life. The objective of this work was to study the stability of anthocyanins in a commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) dried extract compared with the stability of the same extract contained in a food supplement enriched with α-tocopheryl succinate and ascorbic acid. The values obtained after exposure of the samples to natural light and to alternating hot and cold temperatures show considerable sensitivity of the commercial cranberry dried extract to the agents used for the same evaluation (time, temperature and light) and emphasize a positive effect of the enrichment of the derived preparation with α-tocopheryl succinate and ascorbic acid.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) Growth at Different Altitudes in Central Italian Alps: Biomass Yield, Oil Content and Quality

ABSTRACT Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) is a perennial herb, native to Europe and Asia and growing wild at different environmental conditions (altitude, soil). Since ancient ages, yarrow leaves and flowers have been used as medicinals, in cosmetics, and food industries. Plant height, number of inflorescences, fresh biomass and essential oil content, yield and composition of Achillea millefolium L. grown at different altitudes (from 250 m to 1,100 m) were studied. Plant height (from 54 cm to 77 cm) and essential oil content per plant (from 0.16% to 0.22%) were not significantly affected by environment, while the number of inflorescences/plant, fresh biomass herb yield (from 5 Mt/ha to 12 Mt/ha) and essential oil yield (from 1.12 Kg/ha to 2.51 Kg/ha) were significantly influenced by environment. As far as the composition of essential oils is concerned, there was a remarkable change in some monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes: in particular α- and β-thujone were not present in oils from fields at a higher altitude, suggesting that their synthesis depends on both genetic and environmental factors. The concentrations of lavandulyl acetate, chama-zulene, P-caryophyllene, a-humulene and y-curcumene + germacrene D are greatly influenced by environmental growing conditions. From a qualitative point of view, essential oils from different environmental condition have different characteristics.

The Composition and Quality of Supercritical CO2 Extracted Cinnamon

ABSTRACT Coarsely ground cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) was extracted using supercritical CO2 in commercially available equipment. The extracts were made at 50°C with pressures varying from 300–600 bar. The extracts were compared chemically with a methylene chloride oleoresin and a water-distilled oil. It was found that the chemical composition between all of the materials was very similar. The cinnamaldehyde and eugenol contents varied from 75.72% to 83.19% and 1.57% to 2.40%, respectively. From this study, it can be concluded that for supercritical CO2 extraction of cinnamon at 500C, pressures greater than 300 bar are not necessary.

Headspace-SPME analysis of volatiles from quince whole fruits.

Abstract Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with GC and GC/MS was used for analysis of the volatile compounds of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.). The whole fruits, representing two different ripening stages, were stored and analyzed one day after collection. More than 40 volatile compounds were identified. The relative percentage of acetates, with exception of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, increased in a parallel way with ripeness. Of the esters of higher organic acids, ethyl hexanoate and ethyl octanoate were present in the greatest quantity. Ethyl octanoate, which was present in the highest quantity, showed the highest increase with ripeness (from 6–8% to 15–18%), while ethyl hexanoate increased 3% to >4%. In contrast, the relative percentages of two sesquiterpenes, α-bergamotene and α-farnesene, clearly decreased with ripeness.

Identification of organic contaminants in disposable aluminium foil containers

A series of disposable aluminium foil containers designed for cooking and packaging foods and available on the Italian market were investigated. Using different analytical techniques (near infrared (NIR), High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)), organic substances used as lubricants in the manufacturing of the containers were detected on the aluminium layer in contact with the food. These contaminants were not mineral hydrocarbon fractions used for the shaping of can lids and bodies, but had an organic structure identifiable as esters derived by synthesis between fatty acids C8 and C10 with glycerine, and between C16 and C18 with butyl alcohol. Mixtures of higher esters were also identified as contaminants. Twelve samples were analysed, and the total amount of contaminant substances was found to range from 900 to 1200 µg dm−2. It is recommended, for safety and compliance with European Community (EC) Regulation No. 1935/2004 (27 October 2004), that the use of aluminium foil containers be subject to appropriate regulation concerning substances adopted for technological purposes.