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Comparison of the characterisation of the fruit‐like aroma of Teucrium flavum L. subsp flavum by hydrodistillation and solid‐phase micro‐extraction
Author(s) -
Maggi Filippo,
Bílek Tomas,
Cristalli Gloria,
Papa Fabrizio,
Sagratini Gianni,
Vittori Sauro
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.3757
Subject(s) - aroma , chemistry , solid phase microextraction , lamiaceae , extraction (chemistry) , food science , flavour , fraction (chemistry) , chromatography , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , botany , mass spectrometry , biology
BACKGROUND: Teucrium species (Lamiaceae) are interesting for the food industry since many of them are used in the preparation of flavoured wines and beers, herbal teas, bitters and liqueurs. On this basis, the analysis of the aroma components of Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing in central Italy was carried out by means of both hydrodistillation (HD) and headspace solid‐phase micro‐extraction (HS‐SPME), coupled with GC/FID and GC/MS. RESULTS: A total of 102 components were identified in the essential oils, representing 99.0‐99.3% of the total oils. Sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons constituted the major fraction (48.5–49.4%), with the apple‐like flavour ( Z , E )‐α‐farnesene being the major component. HS‐SPME allowed the analysis of the volatiles not only emitted by specific plant parts, but also by different parts within a single flower: flower calyx afforded the highest contribution, in terms of volatiles, to the aroma of the plant. CONCLUSION: The chemical profile of the volatile fraction obtained by HD and HS‐SPME, demonstrated the plant fruit‐like aroma, confirming the usefulness for flavouring wines, bitters and other kind of beverages, and also suggested other applications, as aroma and taste enhancer in food processing. In particular, SPME resulted in a very useful technique, which permits a choice between the part of the plant which has the highest concentration of a specific fragrance, and therefore establishes the best way of sampling during industrial applications of aromatic plants. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry