The Potential of High Voltage Discharges for Green Solvent Extraction of Bioactive Compounds and Aromas from Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)-Computational Simulation and Experimental Methods.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a Mediterranean medicinal and aromatic plant widely used due to valuable bioactive compounds (BACs) and aromas. The aim of the study was to evaluate the extraction of intracellular compounds from rosemary combining experimental procedure by means of high voltage electrical discharge (HVED), with a theoretical approach using two computational simulation methods: conductor-like screening model for real solvents and Hansen solubility parameters. The optimal HVED parameters were as follows: frequency 100 Hz, pulse width 400 ns, gap between electrodes 15 mm, liquid to solid ratio 50 mL/g, voltage 15 and 20 kV for argon, and 20 and 25 kV for nitrogen gas. Green solvents were used, water and ethanol (25% and 50%). The comparison was done with modified conventional extraction (CE) extracted by magnetic stirring and physicochemical analyses of obtained extracts were done. Results showed that HVED extracts in average 2.13-times higher total phenol content compared to CE. Furthermore, nitrogen, longer treatment time and higher voltage enhanced higher yields in HVED extraction. HVED was confirmed to have a high potential for extraction of BACs from rosemary. The computational stimulation methods were confirmed by experimental study, ethanol had higher potential of solubility of BACs and aromas from rosemary compared to water.

NMR in the Service of Wine Differentiation.

NMR is a swift and highly reproducible spectrometric technique that makes it possible to obtain spectra containing a lot of information about the sample analyzed. This approach helps major components be described in complex mixtures such as wine in just one analysis. Analysis of wine metabolites is very often used to understand the impact of geographical origin or variety on wine quality. NMR is often used for tracing the geographical origin of wine. Research on NMR metabolic effects of geographical origin is of great importance as the high added value of wines results from compliance with state legislation on the protected denomination of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI) for the administration of the appellation of wines. A review of NMR with emphasis on SNIF-NMR in the analysis of wine authenticity is given. SNIF-NMR remains a method of choice for the detection of wine chaptalization as it is the only approach which provides position-specific information on the origin of sugar in wine. However, the sample preparation step, which lacks major improvements since its conception, is strenuous and expensive, and suffers from drawbacks in terms of low sample throughput. Mainstream 1D and 2D NMR experiments provide a fast and affordable way to authenticate wine based on the geographical origin, vintage, and variety discrimination, and include a simple and non-destructive sample preparation step. With this approach, spectral data processing often represents a crucial step of the analysis. With properly performed NMR experiments good to excellent differentiation of wines from different vintages, regions, and varieties was achieved recently.