Analysis of the flavor of aged spirits made from sweet potato and rice by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Flavor patterns of sweet potato spirits (SPS) made from sul-deot manufactured by sweet potato showed an increasing tendency for aging from 64 to 128 weeks. When the SPS was blended with spirits made from sul-deot manufactured by rice in a 7:3 ratio, showing an increase for aging from 16 to 60 weeks, using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with solid-phase microextration. The main compounds showing increasing tendency of the SPS and blended spirits (BS) were iso-amyl alcohol, n-propanol. Especially, ethyl caprylate, and ethyl acetate increased in SPS. The results were cross-checked by an electronic nose. For the results of SPS in the flavor pattern, a decrease was noted by main ion fragments. For the BS, a decrease was noted. These cross-checked results were useful for controlling quality of aging spirits, especially SPS. Based on these results, it was considered that further experiments are needed to identify key compounds for accurate correlation analysis.

Analysis of ethanol in soy sauce using electronic nose for halal food certification.

The purpose of this study was to analyze ethanol content in soy sauce using mass spectrometry (MS) with electronic nose (e-nose) to determine if MS e-nose can replace gas chromatographic analysis for halal certification. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), the standard method of ethanol content, was used to analyze 24 different kinds of soy sauce. Ethanol was detected from 13 soy sauce samples in the concentration range of 0.0004-1.7wt%. The MS e-nose data were analyzed by discriminant function analysis (DFA). Based on an addition method, the results were more than 96.6% accurate when the ethanol concentrations were greater than 0.5%. A high correlation between the first score of the DFA plot and the ethanol concentration was observed. Thus, mass spectrometry based on e-nose is an efficient method for determining ethanol as a primary screening tool for halal certification.

Effect of fluorescent light and light emitting diode illumination on volatile profiles of vegetable oils.

Volatile compounds from vegetable oils under lighting emitting diode (LED) illumination were analyzed during 12 weeks of storage using different containers. Pattern changes in volatile compounds were analyzed using an electronic nose based on MS. Vegetable oils were more influenced by container type than by illumination. The greatest change in volatile compounds was observed with use of polyethylene (PE) bottles. Amber bottles provided a light blocking effect during early stages of storage that decreased in strength after 12 weeks. Volatile components of vegetable oils were most influenced under fluorescent and blue LED illumination. In contrast, least changes in volatile contents was observed under red and green LED illumination. Appropriate LED colors and container types can provide good quality vegetable oil under a distribution chain system.

Discrimination of the cultivar, growing region, and geographical origin of rice (Oryza sativa) using a mass spectrometer-based electronic nose.

The objective of this study was to discrimination the cultivar, growing region, and geographical origin of rice (Oryza sativa) using a mass spectrometry-based electronic nose (MSE-nose). The inside-needle dynamic extraction (INDEX) system was used to concentrate the samples for MSEnose, following which the ion fragment data obtained were used to perform discriminant function analysis. Discriminant functions 1 and 2 readily separated all 16 cultivars of rice sampled. It was also confirmed that MSE-nose could distinguish the region in which rice cv. Chucheong and Koshihikari were grown, likely due to variation in environmental factors, such as soil and climate. Finally, it was confirmed that MSE-nose could be used to detect the geographical origin of rice, discrimination Korea rice from Japanese rice. Therefore, this simple and rapid technique is of value for discriminating the cultivar, growing region, and geographical origin of rice.

Application of E-tongue, E-nose, and MS-E-nose for discriminating aged vinegars based on taste and aroma profiles.

The combined approach of E-senses was undertaken to discriminate the taste and aroma profiles of aged vinegars, including Chinese Shanxi extra aged vinegar (EX, 5-8 years), Japanese black vinegar (BL, 1-5 years), and Italian balsamic vinegar (BA, 8-25 years). The principal component analysis plot for E-tongue revealed that EX, BL, and BA formed individual groups with clear distinctions. The volatile compounds detected in E-nose based on Kovats indices represented that a major component in all vinegars was matched to acetic acid, which showed a strong relationship with the aging period (R=0.8186-0.9998). The discriminant function analysis plot accompanied by the MS-E-nose indicated that more volatiles were produced during prolonged aging in cereal vinegar, whereas the aging process degraded volatile constituents in fruit vinegar. Categorization with respect to aging years was possible using both E-noses. The approach using E-senses indicated a better discrimination for distinguishing the complex sensory information in aged vinegars.

Discrimination of white ginseng origins using multivariate statistical analysis of data sets.

BACKGROUND: White ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is commonly distributed as a health food in food markets. However, there is no practical method for distinguishing Korean white ginseng (KWG) from Chinese white ginseng (CWG), except for relying on the traceability system in the market. METHODS: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) was employed to discriminate between KWG and CWG. RESULTS: The origins of white ginsengs in two test sets (1.0 µL and 0.2 µL injections) could be successfully discriminated by the OPLS-DA analysis. From OPLS-DA S-plots, KWG exhibited tentative markers derived from ginsenoside Rf and notoginsenoside R3 isomer, whereas CWG exhibited tentative markers derived from ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin Iva. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with OPLS-DA is an efficient tool for identifying the difference between the geographical origins of white ginsengs.

Listeria monocytogenes inhibition by defatted mustard meal-based edible films.

An antimicrobial edible film was developed from defatted mustard meal (Sinapis alba) (DMM), a byproduct from the bio-fuel industry, without incorporating external antimicrobials and its antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and physical properties were investigated. The DMM colloidal solution consisting of 184 g water, 14 g DMM, and 2g glycerol was homogenized and incubated at 37°C for 0.2, 0.5, 24 or 48 h to prepare a film-forming solution. The pH of a portion of the film-forming solution (pH 5.5) was adjusted to 2.0 or 4.0. Films were formed by drying the film-forming solutions at 23°C for 48 h. The film-forming solution incubated for 48 h inhibited L. monocytogenes in broth and on agar media. Antimicrobial effects of the film prepared from the 48 h-incubated solution increased with decrease in pH of the solution from 5.5 to 2.0. The film from the film forming solution incubated for 48 h (pH 2.0) initially inhibited more than 4.0 log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes inoculated on film-coated salmon. The film-coating retarded the growth of L. monocytogenes in smoked salmon at 5, 10, and 15°C and the antimicrobial effect during storage was more noticeable when the coating was applied before inoculation than when it was applied after inoculation. The tensile strength, percentage elongation, solubility in watercxu, and water vapor permeability of the anti microbial film were 2.44 ± 0.19 MPa, 6.40 ± 1.13%, 3.19 ± 0.90%, and 3.18 ± 0.63 gmm/kPa hm(2), respectively. The antimicrobial DMM films have demonstrated a potential to be applied to foods as wraps or coatings to control the growth of L. monocytogenes.

Activation of the Chemosensory Ion Channels TRPA1 and TRPV1 by Hydroalcohol Extract of Kalopanax pictus Leaves.

TRPA1 and TRPV1 are members of the TRP superfamily of structurally related, nonselective cation channels. TRPA1 and TRPV1 are often co-expressed in sensory neurons and play an important role in somatosense such as cold, pain, and irritants. The first leaves of Kalopanax pictus Nakai (Araliaceae) have long been used as a culinary ingredient in Korea because of their unique chemesthetic flavor. In this study, we observed the intracellular Ca(2+) response to cultured cells expressing human TRPA1 (hTRPA1) and human TRPV1 (hTRPV1) by Ca(2+) imaging analysis to investigate the ability of the first leaves of K. pictus to activate the hTRPA1 and hTRPV1. An 80% ethanol extract of K. pictus (KPEx) increased intracellular Ca(2+) influx in a response time- and concentration-dependent manner via either hTRPA1 or hTRPV1. KPEx-induced response to hTRPA1 was markedly attenuated by ruthenium red, a general blocker of TRP channels, and HC-030031, a specific antagonist of TRPA1. In addition, the intracellular Ca(2+) influx attained with KPEx to hTRPV1 was mostly blocked by ruthenium red, and capsazepine, a specific antagonist of TRPV1. These results indicate that KPEx selectively activates both hTRPA1 and hTRPV1, which may provide evidence that the first leaves of K. pictus primarily activate TRPA1 and TRPV1 to induce their unique chemesthetic sense.

Application of solid phase-microextraction (SPME) and electronic nose techniques to differentiate volatiles of sesame oils prepared with diverse roasting conditions.

Headspace volatiles of sesame oil (SO) from sesame seeds roasted at 9 different conditions were analyzed by a combination of solid phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), electronic nose/metal oxide sensors (MOS), and electronic nose/MS. As roasting temperature increased from 213 to 247 °C, total headspace volatiles and pyrazines increased significantly (P < 0.05). Pyrazines were major volatiles in SO and furans, thiazoles, aldehydes, and alcohols were also detected. Roasting temperature was more discrimination factor than roasting time for the volatiles in SO through the principal component analysis (PCA) of SPME-GC/MS, electronic nose/MOS, and electronic nose/MS. Electronic nose/MS showed that ion fragment 52, 76, 53, and 51 amu played important roles in discriminating volatiles in SO from roasted sesame seeds, which are the major ion fragments from pyrazines, furans, and furfurals. SO roasted at 213, 230, and 247 °C were clearly differentiated from each other on the base of volatile distribution by SPME-GC/MS, electronic nose/MOS, and electronic nose/MS analyses. Practical Application: The results of this study are ready to apply for the discriminating samples using a combinational analysis of volatiles. Not only vegetable oils prepared from roasting process but also any food sample possessing volatiles could be targets for the SPME-GC/MS and electronic nose assays. Contents and types of pyrazines in sesame seed oil could be used as markers to track down the degree of roasting and oxidation during oil preparation.

Enhanced conversion of sucrose to isomaltulose by a mutant of Erwinia rhapontici.

Mutagenesis of Erwinia rhapontici was performed to enhance the production of isomaltulose from sucrose. A mutant strain, BN 68089, was obtained through a screening process involving automated and miniaturized cultivation in Bioscreen C. This high-throughput, miniaturized screening system was optimized to identify the mutant strain, which had a conversion yield (90%) and productivity (194 g l(-1) h(-1)). The BN 68089 mutant cells were immobilized in sodium alginate and when operated in a packed bed reactor gave a yield of 89% and a productivity of 144 g l(-1) h(-1) of at 30 degrees C, the optimal temperature. Immobilized BN 68089 cells exhibited 8% and 15% higher yield and productivity, respectively, than those of the wild-type strain.