Minor metabolites as chemical marker for the differentiation of cane, beet and coconut blossom sugar. From profiling towards identification of adulterations

Universal 1H Spin-Lattice NMR Relaxation Features of Sugar-A Step towards Quality Markers

1H fast field-cycling and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry studies have been performed for 15 samples of sugar of different kinds and origins (brown, white, cane, beet sugar). The extensive data set, including results for crystal sugar and sugar/water mixtures, has been thoroughly analyzed, with a focus on identifying relaxation contributions associated with the solid and liquid fractions of the systems and non-exponentiality of the relaxation processes. It has been observed that 1H spin-lattice relaxation rates for crystal sugar (solid) vary between 0.45 s-1 and 0.59 s-1, and the relaxation process shows only small deviations from exponentiality (a quantitative measure of the exponentiality has been provided). The 1H spin-lattice relaxation process for sugar/water mixtures has turned out to be bi-exponential, with the relaxation rates varying between about 13 s-1-17 s-1 (for the faster component) and about 2.1 s-1-3.5 s-1 (for the slower component), with the ratio between the amplitudes of the relaxation contributions ranging between 2.8 and 4.2. The narrow ranges in which the parameters vary make them a promising marker of the quality and authenticity of sugar.

Coconut Sugar: Chemical Analysis and Nutritional Profile; Health Impacts; Safety and Quality Control; Food Industry Applications

Consumers often wish to substitute refined sugar with alternative sweeteners, such as coconut sugar, given growing interest in healthy eating and the public's negative perception of excess sugar intake. Coconut sugar is a healthier, sweetener option than the majority of other sugars that are commercially available. Sap is collected from trees to be transported, stored, and evaporated during processing, which are labor- and resource-intensive operations. Consequently, the cost of production is higher than it is for cane sugar. Given its high nutritional value and low glycemic index, people are willing to pay higher prices for it. However, one barrier is ignorance of its health benefits. This review examines and deals in-depth with the most significant features of coconut sugar chemical analyses to focus on several analytical methodologies given the increasing demand for naturally derived sweeteners in the last 10 years. A deeper understanding of the quality control, safety, health effects, nutritional profile, and sustainability issues corresponding to coconut sugar is necessary to effectively implement them in the food industry.

LC-HRMS-Based Non-Targeted Metabolomics for the Assessment of Honey Adulteration with Sugar Syrups: A Preliminary Study

Honey is a natural product that is in great demand and has a relatively high price, thus making it one of the most common targets of economically motivated adulteration. Its adulteration can be obtained by adding cheaper honey or sugar syrups or by overfeeding honeybees with sugar syrups. Adulteration techniques are constantly evolving and advanced techniques and instruments are required for its detection. We used non-targeted metabolomics to underscore potential markers of honey adulteration with sugar syrups. The metabolomic profiles of unadulterated honeys and sugar beet, corn and wheat syrups were obtained using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The potential markers have been selected after data processing. Fortified honey (5%, 10% and 20%), honey obtained from overfeeding, and 58 commercial honeys were analyzed. One potential marker appeared with a specific signal for syrups and not for honey. This targeted analysis showed a linear trend in fortified honeys with a calculated limit of quantification around 5% of fortification.

Aconitic Acid Recovery from Renewable Feedstock and Review of Chemical and Biological Applications

Aconitic acid (propene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid) is the most prevalent 6-carbon organic acid that accumulates in sugarcane and sweet sorghum. As a top value-added chemical, aconitic acid may function as a chemical precursor or intermediate for high-value downstream industrial and biological applications. These downstream applications include use as a bio-based plasticizer, cross-linker, and the formation of valuable and multi-functional polyesters that have also been used in tissue engineering. Aconitic acid also plays various biological roles within cells as an intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and in conferring unique survival advantages to some plants as an antifeedant, antifungal, and means of storing fixed pools of carbon. Aconitic acid has also been reported as a fermentation inhibitor, anti-inflammatory, and a potential nematicide. Since aconitic acid can be sustainably sourced from renewable, inexpensive sources such as sugarcane, molasses, and sweet sorghum syrup, there is enormous potential to provide multiple streams of additional income to the sugar industry through downstream industrial and biological applications that we discuss in this review.