Volatile and capsaicinoid composition of ají (Capsicum baccatum) and rocoto (Capsicum pubescens), two Andean species of chile peppers.

BACKGROUND: Ají (Capsicum baccatum L. var. pendulum) and rocoto (Capsicum pubescens R. & P.) are two species of chile pepper used for millennia in Andean cuisine. The introduction of these relatively unknown Capsicum species to new markets requires an understanding of their flavour-related compounds. Thus both heat level (Scoville method and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)) and, particularly, aroma (headspace solid phase microextraction and GC/MS/olfactometry) were studied in different accessions of ají and rocoto and a C. chinense control. RESULTS: Ajíes and rocotos are mildly pungent compared with C. chinense (13-352 vs 1605 mg kg(-1) total capsaicinoids). More than 200 volatiles were detected and marked differences in volatile pattern were found between the studied accessions. The powerful fruity/exotic aroma of the C. chinense control is due to esters such as ethyl 4-methylpentanoate, norcarotenoids such as ß-ionone and the hydrocarbon ectocarpene. In contrast, the Andean peppers had more earthy/vegetable/bell pepper-like aromas. Rocotos also exhibited a distinct additional cucumber odour, while one of the ajíes had a distinctive sweet/fruity note. The aroma of C. pubescens fruits is mainly due to substituted 2-methoxypyrazines and lipoxygenase cleavage products (e.g. 2-nonenals, 2,6-nonadienal). 2-Heptanethiol, 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine and several phenols (e.g. guaiacol) and terpenoids (e.g. α-pinene, 1,8-cineol, linalool) are the basis of C. baccatum aroma, with some 3-methyl-2-butyl esters contributing to fruity notes. CONCLUSION: In this study the compounds responsible for heat and aroma in the Andean peppers C. baccatum and C. pubescens were identified. The results will be of use to inspire future studies aimed at improving the flavour of these species.

HS-SPME comparative analysis of genotypic diversity in the volatile fraction and aroma-contributing compounds of Capsicum fruits from the annuum-chinense-frutescens complex.

Volatile constituents of ripe fruits of 16 Capsicum accessions from the annuum-chinense-frutescens complex, with different aroma impressions and geographical origins, were isolated by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-sniffing port-MS). More than 300 individual compounds could be detected in the studied genotypes; most of them could be identified by comparing mass spectra and retention times with authentic reference substances or literature data. Esters and terpenoids were the main groups, although other minor compounds, such as nitrogen and sulfur compounds, phenol derivatives, norcarotenoids, lipoxygenase derivatives, carbonyls, alcohols, and other hydrocarbons, were also identified. The sniffing test revealed that the diversity of aromas found among the studied cultivars is due to qualitative and quantitative differences of, at least, 23 odor-contributing volatiles (OCVs). C. chinense, and C. frutescens accessions, with fruity/exotic aromas, were characterized by a high contribution of several esters and ionones and a low or nil contribution of green/vegetable OCVs. Different combinations of fruity/exotic and green/vegetable OCVs would explain the range of aroma impressions found among C. annuum accessions. Implications of these findings for breeding and phylogeny studies in Capsicum are also discussed.

Identification of 2,3-epoxymethacrylic acid as an intermediate in the metabolism of dental materials in human liver microsomes.

OBJECTIVES: In previous studies it could be demonstrated that methacrylic acid (MA) is an intermediate in the metabolism of unpolymerized dental comonomers, released from dental restorative materials. This study was performed to identify the possible dental material intermediate 2,3-epoxymethacrylic acid (2,3-EMA) from MA in human liver microsomes. Most epoxy compounds are regarded as highly toxic substances. METHODS: The formation and hydrolysis were studied in defined systems containing only MA and human liver microsomes at 37 degrees C. Hydrolysis was inhibited by cyclohexene oxide, a competitive inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase. The reaction product 2,3-EMA was analyzed by the headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After 5, 30, and 60 min samples were taken and analyzed. RESULTS: For the reaction of MA to 2,3-EMA the average conversion rate was about 5% within 1h. It was found that without cyclohexene oxide the rate constant of enzymatic hydrolysis at pH 7.4 was about 10 times higher than the rate constant of the formation from MA in combination with cyclohexene oxide (k=8.3 versus 0.83 micromol/l min), indicating an instability and thus a high reactivity of 2,3-EMA. The formation of the MA intermediate 2,3-EMA was not observed when heat-inactivated liver microsomes were used (controls). SIGNIFICANCE: It could be clearly demonstrated that 2,3-EMA is a product of dental material metabolisms in biological systems. Therefore, increased toxicity might occur on dental restorative materials which are able to release (co)monomers which can be metabolized to MA.

Glycosidically bound volatiles and flavor precursors in Laurus nobilis L.

Glycosidically bound volatile compounds in different parts (leaves and buds) of Laurus nobilis L. were investigated. After isolation of extracts obtained by Amberlite XAD-2 adsorption and methanol elution, glycosides were analyzed after enzymatic hydrolysis by GC-MS or directly after trifluoroacetyl (TFA) derivatization by GC-MS in EI and NCI mode. In the leaves most of the glycosidically bound volatiles occur as beta-D-glucopyranosides. Among the disaccharides, primeverosides are predominant; smaller amounts of alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosides, rutinosides, and vicianocides could also be identified. Major aglycons comprised benzyl alcohol, some linalool-diols, 2-hydroxy-1,8-cineole and its derivatives such as 2,3-dehydro-1,8-cineole, sobrerols, and menthadien-8-ols. Among the identified nor-carotenoids, 3-oxo-alpha-ionol, the corresponding 7,8-dihydro derivative, and vomifoliol are predominant in leaves. 3-Hydroxy-beta-damascone and 3-hydroxy-7,8-didehydro-beta-ionol, precursors of the sensorially active damascenone, were identified only in the buds.

Analysis of the volatile aroma constituents of parental and hybrid clones of pepino (Solanum muricatum).

The volatile constituents of 10 clones (4 parents with different flavors and 6 hybrids from selected crossings among these parents) of pepino fruit (Solanum muricatum) were isolated by simultaneous distillation-extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Odor-contributing volatiles (OCVs) were detected by GC-olfactometry-MS analyses and included 24 esters (acetates, 3-methylbutanoates, and 3-methylbut-2-enoates), 7 aldehydes (especially hexenals and nonenals), 6 ketones, 9 alcohols, 3 lactones, 2 terpenes, beta-damascenone, and mesifurane. Among these compounds, 17, of which 5 had not been reported previously in pepino, were found to contribute significantly to pepino aroma. OCVs can be assigned to three groups according to their odor quality: fruity fresh (acetates and prenol), green vegetable (C6 and C9 aldehydes), and exotic (lactones, mesifuran, and beta-damascenone). Quantitative and qualitative differences between clones for these compounds are clearly related to differences in their overall flavor impression. The positive value found for the hybrid-midparent regression coefficient for volatile composition indicates that an important fraction of the variation observed is inheritable, which has important implications in breeding for improving aroma. Significant and positive correlations were found between OCVs having common precursors or related pathways.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the gum of Turkish pistachio (Pistacia vera L.).

The essential oil from the gum of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L. (Anacardiaceae)) grown in Turkey was obtained by the hydro-distillation method, and its chemical composition was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Moreover, the antimicrobial activities of the oil against the growth of 13 bacteria and 3 pathogenic yeasts were evaluated using the agar-disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. The results showed that the essential oil contained about 89.67% monoterpenes, 8.1% oxygenated monoterpenes and 1.2% diterpenes. alpha-Pinene (75.6%), beta-pinene (9.5%), trans-verbenol (3.0%), camphene (1.4%), trans-pinocarveol (about 1.20%), and limonene (1.0%) were the major components. The antimicrobial results showed that the oil inhibited nine bacteria and all the yeasts studied, and the activities were considerably dependent upon concentration and its bioactive compounds such as carvacrol, camphene, and limonene. Moreover, the essential oil of the gum was found to be more effective yeastcide than Nystatin, synthetic yeastcide. Furthermore, the antibacterial activities of the oil were lower than those of standard antibiotics, ampicillin sodium, and streptomycine sulfate under the conditions studied.

Volatile constituents and key odorants in leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits of Laurus nobilis L.

The volatiles of fresh leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits from bay (Laurus nolilis L.) were isolated by solvent extraction and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their odor quality was characterized by gas chomatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (HRGC-O-MS) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). In fresh bay leaves 1,8-cineole was the major component, together with alpha-terpinyl acetate, sabinene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-elemene, alpha-terpineol, linalool, and eugenol. Besides 1,8-cineole and the pinenes, the main components in flowers were alpha-eudesmol, beta-elemene, and beta-caryophyllene, in fruits (E)-beta-ocimene and biclyclogermacrene, and in buds (E)-beta-ocimene and germacrene D. The aliphatic ocimenes and farnesenes were absent in leaves. By using HRGC-O-MS 21 odor compounds were identified in fresh leaves. Application of AEDA revealed (Z)-3-hexenal (fresh green), 1,8-cineole (eucalyptus), linalool (flowery), eugenol (clove), (E)-isoeugenol (flowery), and an unidentified compound (black pepper) with the highest flavor dilution factors. Differences between buds, flowers, fruits, and leaves with regard to the identified odor compounds are presented.