Classification of Turkish hazelnut oils based on their triacylglycerol structures by chemometric analysis

Meeting the challenge of varietal and geographical authentication of hazelnuts through lipid metabolite fingerprinting

Hazelnuts are high-quality products with significant economic importance in many European countries. Their market price depends on their qualitative characteristics, which are driven by cultivar and geographical origin, making hazelnuts susceptible to fraud. This study systematically compared two lipidomic fingerprinting strategies for the simultaneous authentication of hazelnut cultivar and provenance, based on the analysis of the unsaponifiable fraction (UF) and triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with chemometrics. PLS-DA classification models were developed using a large sample set with high natural variability (n = 309) to discriminate hazelnuts by cultivar and origin. External validation results demonstrated the suitability of the UF fingerprint as a hazelnut authentication tool, both tested models showing a high efficiency (>94 %). The correct classification rate of the TAG fingerprinting method was lower (>80 %), but due to its faster analysis time, it is recommended as a complementary screening tool to UF fingerprinting.

The use of analytical techniques coupled with chemometrics for tracing the geographical origin of oils: A systematic review (2013-2020)

The global market for imported, high-quality priced foods has grown dramatically in the last decade, as consumers become more conscious of food originating from around the world. Many countries require the origin label of food to protect consumers need about true characteristics and origin. Regulatory authorities are looking for an extended and updated list of the analytical techniques for verification of authentic oils and to support law implementation. This review aims to introduce the efforts made using various analytical tools in combination with the multivariate analysis for the verification of the geographical origin of oils. The popular analytical tools have been discussed, and scientometric assessment that underlines research trends in geographical authentication and preferred journals used for dissemination has been indicated. Overall, we believe this article will be a good guideline for food industries and food quality control authority to assist in the selection of appropriate methods to authenticate oils.

Shelf-Life Evolution of the Fatty Acid Fingerprint in High-Quality Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) Harvested in Different Geographical Regions

Hazelnuts are characterized by a relatively high abundance of oleic acid and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, which give this fruit a high nutritional value. As a counterbalance, such a lipid profile is more susceptible to autoxidation and/or degradation reactions under enzymatic catalysis. Lipid oxidation occurs on fatty acids (FAs), both esterified on triacylglycerols and in free form (after lipolysis), but with favorable kinetics on the latter. In this study, the quali-quantitative changes in FA profiles (both free and esterified) were monitored during the shelf life (time 0, 6, and 12 months) as a function of different drying and storage conditions and different cultivars and geographical areas. A derivatization/extraction procedure was performed to quantify the profile of free and esterified fatty acids accurately. The overall profile of the free and esterified fatty acids concurred to create a biological signature characteristic of the cultivar and of the harvest region. The free and esterified forms' characterization enabled the efficient monitoring of the effects of both the hydrolytic activity (increment in overall free fatty acids) and the oxidative process (decrease in unsaturated free fatty acids versus esterified fatty acids) over the 12 months of storage.

Lipid Characterization of Chinese Wild Hazelnuts (Corylus mandshurica Maxim.)

To develop and use the hazelnut, the main composition, and the physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid compositions, triacylglycerol (TAG) distribution and tocol contents of Hazelnut (Corylus mandshurica Maxim.) which growing in Changbai mountain of Jilin province (HO1) and Anshan city of Liaoning province (HO2) in China were investigated, and the comparative study between the two hazelnut oils and American hazelnut / Turkish hazelnut were also explored. The content of crude lipid and protein in HO1 and HO2 were approximately 54% and 17%, 55% and 16%, respectively. The two hazelnut oils were abundant in unsaturated fatty acids, with the primary unsaturated fatty acids were oleic acid (78%-80%) and linoleic acid (14-16%), which accounted for above 90% of the oils. Therefore, both of the hazelnut oils were important sources of essential fatty acid. In addition, the main saturated fatty acid of the two hazelnut oils were palmitic acid (3%) and stearic acid (1-2%). The main triacylglycerols (TGA) profile were dioleolinolein (OOL), oleodilinolein (OLL) and triolein (OOO). The contents of tocol were 574.44 μg/g, 647.49 μg/g oil in HO1 and HO2, respectively, both of them were higher than that of grape seed oils (454 μg/g), olive oils (209 μg/g) and walnut oils (255 μg/g). The total phytosterol contents were over 2000μg/g and β-sitosterol was the most predominant sterol in two oils.