Chemical profile of pineapple cv. Vitória in different maturation stages using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Pineapple is the fruit of Ananas comosus var. comosus plant, being cultivated in tropical areas and has high energy content and nutritional value. Herein, 30 samples of pineapple cv. Vitória were analyzed as a function of the maturation stage (0-5) and their physico-chemical parameters monitored. In addition, negative-ion mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry [ESI(-)FT-ICR MS] was used to identify and semi-quantify primary and secondary metabolites present in the crude and phenolic extracts of pineapple, respectively. RESULTS: Physico-chemical tests show an increase in the total soluble solids (TSS) values and in the TSS/total titratable acidity ratio as a function of the maturity stage, where a maximum value was observed in stage 3 (¾ of the fruit is yellow, which corresponds to the color of the fruit peel). ESI(-)FT-ICR MS analysis for crude extracts showed the presence mainly of sugars as primary metabolites present in deprotonated molecule form ([M - H]- and [2 M - H]- ions) whereas, for phenolic fractions, 11 compounds were detected, being the most abundant in the third stage of maturation. This behavior was confirmed by quantitative analysis of total polyphenols. CONCLUSION: ESI-FT-ICR MS was efficient in identifying primary (carbohydrates and organic acids) and secondary metabolites (13 phenolic compounds) presents in the crude and phenolic extract of the samples, respectively. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Monitoring the physicochemical degradation of coconut water using ESI-FT-ICR MS.

Fresh and aged coconut water (CW) samples were introduced directly into the electrospray ionisation (ESI) source, and were combined with the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) technique to characterise in situ chemical compounds produced during natural ageing (from 0 to 15 days) at room temperature (23 °C). The ESI-FT-ICR MS readings were acquired and the data were correlated to conventional methodologies: pH, total titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids, microbial analyses, and ultraviolet visibility (UV-vis) spectroscopy analysis. In general, the pH and TA values changed after 3 days of storage making the CW unsuitable for consumption. The ESI(-)-FT-ICR data also showed a clear and evident change in the chemical profile of CW after 3 days of ageing in the m/z 150-250 and 350-450 regions. Initially, the relative intensity of the natural markers (the m/z 215 and 377 ions-sugar molecules) decreases as a function of ageing time, with the last marker disappearing after 3 days of ageing. New chemical species were then identified such as: citric (m/z 191), galacturonic (m/z 193), gluconic (m/z 195), and saccharic (m/z 209) acids. ESI(-)-FT-ICR MS is a powerful tool to predict the physicochemical properties of CW, such as the pH and TA, where species such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, and gluconic acid can be used as natural markers to monitor the quality of the fruits.