Unraveling of the Aroma-Active Compounds in Virgin Camellia Oil (Camellia oleifera Abel) Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Olfactometry, Aroma Recombination, and Omission Studies

Elucidation of key fatty aroma compound contributing to the hepatopancreas of Eriocheir sinensis using sensomics approach by GC-IMS and GC-MS-O

Aroma is one of the most noticeable characteristics when consuming Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and is crucial for consumer satisfaction and the development of industry. In this study, we utilized fingerprints and the sensomics approach to analyze volatiles in the hepatopancreas of E. sinensis from Chongming and Taixing. GC-IMS indicated that the odor profile was dominated by pungent (-), buttery (+), and fruity (+) from Chongming and was more prone to alcoholic (-), solvent (-), and aldehydic (+) in Taixing. Moreover, PLS-DA modeling identified 2-acetylthiazole and toluene as the primary differential compounds. Subsequently, fifteen active-aroma compounds with FD values of >4 was recombined in an odorless matrix to simulate the odor profile of the hepatopancreas. Notably, removing methional may significantly decrease the intensity of the fatty and toasted odors. The findings reveal the odor profile of hepatopancreas and establish a theoretical foundation for subsequent studies on flavor.

Analysis of roasted peanuts based on GC-MS combined with GC-IMS

The present study used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) to separate and identify the characteristic volatile flavor substances in 30 roasted peanut samples. GC-MS identified 59 volatile compounds, and GC-IMS detected 61 volatile flavor substances. The 30 peanut varieties were then divided into four groups on the basis of their volatile flavor substances using principal component analysis (PCA), and a fingerprint profile of the varieties' volatile characteristics was established from information peaks identified in the spectra. Descriptive sensory analysis (DSA) was performed to distinguish differences in flavor attributes between roasted peanut varieties. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was performed with the volatile flavor content of roasted peanuts as the independent variable and the flavor attribute score as the dependent variable. These findings provide a basis for predicting the appeal of roasted peanuts based on their composition and demonstrate a potential avenue for improving food flavor quality.

Insight into the comparison of key aroma-active compounds between camellia oils from different processing technology

Currently, the difference between key odorants of camellia oils from different processing technology (i.e., extra virgin camellia oil (EVCO), virgin camellia oil (VCO), fragrant camellia oil (FCO)) is unclear. In this study, a total of 91 odorants were identified by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC × GC-qMS). The headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) provided fingerprint information for 57 odorants distinguished between EVCO, VCO, and FCO. Moreover, 76 odorants were shown flavor dilution (FD) factors range from 1 to 729, and fruity esters (ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, ethyl decanoate, and ethyl phenylacetate) with FD factors ≥ 27 and odor activity values ≥ 1 are the unique odorants in EVCO. (E, E)-2,4-Heptadienal, (E, E)-2,4-nonadienal, and d-limonene are the aroma-active compounds in VCO. While furfural and 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine with FD factors ≥ 243 are the major contributors to roasted and nutty odor in FCO. This work provides aroma markers for quality assessment of camellia oils.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, network analysis, and molecular docking to investigate the effect and active ingredients of tea-seed oil against bacterial pathogens

Object: This research intended to probe the antibacterial effect and pharmacodynamic substances of Tea-Seed Oil (TSO) through the use of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) analysis, network analysis, and molecular docking. Methods: The major chemical components in the methanol-extracted fractions of TSO were subjected to UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were integrated to investigate the core components, targets, and potential mechanisms of action through which the TSO exert their antibacterial properties. To evaluate the inhibitory effects, the minimum inhibitory concentration and diameter of the bacteriostatic circle were calculated for the potential active ingredients and their equal ratios of combinatorial components (ERCC) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Moreover, the quantification of the active constituents within TSO was achieved through the utilization of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The methanol-extracted fractions contained a total of 47 chemical components, predominantly consisting of unsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds. The network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking analysis revealed that various components, including gallocatechin, gallic acid, epigallocatechin, theophylline, chlorogenic acid, puerarin, and phlorizin, have the ability to interact with critical core targets such as serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (AKT1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a monoclonal antibody to mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), HSP90AA1, and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1). Furthermore, these components can modulate the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT), estrogen, MAPK and interleukin 17 (IL-17) signaling pathways, hereby exerting antibacterial effects. In vitro validation trials have found that seven components, namely gallocatechin, gallic acid, epigallocatechin, theophylline, chlorogenic acid, puerarin, and phloretin, displayed substantial inhibitory effects on E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans, and are typically present in tea oil, with a total content ranging from 15.87∼24.91 μg·g-1. Conclusion: The outcomes of this investigation possess the possibility to expand our knowledge base concerning the utilization of TSO, furnish a theoretical framework for the exploration of antibacterial drugs and cosmetics derived from inherently occurring TSO, and establish a robust groundwork for the advancement and implementations of TOS products within clinical settings.

Identification of glucosinolates and volatile odor compounds in microwaved radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seeds and the corresponding oils by UPLC-IMS-QTOF-MS and GC × GC-qMS analysis

The effect of microwave treatment on the content of glucosinolates (GSL) in radish seeds and volatile odor compounds in the microwaved radish seed oils (MRSO) is still unclear. In this study, a total of 13 GSL were identified and quantified in five radish seed varieties by UPLC-IMS-QTOF-MS, among which glucoraphenin, glucoraphasatin, glucoerucin accounting for up to 90 %. Total GSL decreased by 47.39-67.88% after microwave processing. Moreover, 58 odor compounds were identified in MRSO, including 6 sulfides, 12 nitriles, 2 isothiocyanates, 10 alcohols, 12 aldehydes, 5 ketones, 6 acids, and 5 others. The major odor compounds were (methyldisulfanyl)methane, dimethyltrisulfane, (methylsulfinyl)methane, 3-(methylsulfanyl)-1-propanol, methyl thiocyanate, hexanenitrile, 5-(methylsulfanyl)pentanenitrile, and 4-isothiocyanato-1-butene with odor activity value (OAV) higher than 1. The principal components analysis (PCA) results can distinguish MRSO from five different radish seed varieties, three of which (H20-18, H20-19 and H20-28) were in one group and other two (H20-23 and H20-26) were in another group. In addition, aliphatic GSL showed positive correlations with sulfides, isothiocyanates, and nitriles, while negative correlations with alcohols. This work provides a new insight into the odor contribution of GSL degradation products.

Investigation of aroma characteristics of seven Chinese commercial sunflower seed oils using a combination of descriptive Analysis, GC-quadrupole-MS, and GC-Orbitrap-MS

The aroma characteristics of seven commercial Chinese sunflower seed oils were investigated in this study using descriptive analysis, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with GC-quadrupole-MS (LRMS, low-resolution mass spectrometry), and GC-Orbitrap-MS (HRMS, high-resolution mass spectrometry). GC-Orbitrap-MS quantified 96 compounds, including 18 alcohols, 12 esters, 7 ketones, 20 terpenoids, 11 pyrazines, 6 aldehydes, 6 furans, 6 benzene ring-containing compounds, 3 sulfides, 2 alkanes, and 5 nitrogen-containing compounds. Moreover, 22 compounds including 5 acids, 1 amide, and 16 aldehydes were quantified using GC-Quadrupole-MS. To our knowledge, 23 volatile compounds were reported for the first time in sunflower seed oil. All the seven samples were found to have a 'roasted sunflower seeds' note, 'sunflower seeds aroma' note and 'burnt aroma' note and only five of them had 'fried instant noodles' note, three had 'sweet' note and two had 'puffed food' note. Partial least squares regression was used to screen the candidate key volatiles that caused the aroma differences among these seven samples. It was observed that 'roasted sunflower seeds' note was positively correlated with 1-octen-3-ol, n-heptadehyde and dimethyl sulfone, whereas the 'fried instant noodles' and 'puffed food' demonstrated a positive correlation with pentanal, 3-methylbutanal, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal and 2-pentylfuran. Our findings provide information to the producers and developers for quality control and improvement of sunflower seed oil.

Quality Change in Camellia Oil during Intermittent Frying

Camellia oil with a high oleic acid content is widely used for frying. To comprehensively describe the quality change in camellia oil during frying, the changes in composition, deterioration indicators, and volatile profiles were investigated. The results showed that tocopherols mainly degraded in the early stage of frying, followed by unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). This caused the carbonyl value and total polar compounds level to significantly increase. Moreover, frying promoted the accumulation of volatile compounds in terms of type and abundance, especially aldehydes, which are related to the degradation of UFA. Principal component analysis showed that the frying of camellia oil was divided into three stages. First, the camellia oil with a heating time of 2.5-7.5 h showed excellent quality, where tocopherol played a major role in preventing the loss of UFA and was in the degradation acceleration stage. Subsequently, as tocopherol entered the degradation deceleration stage, the quality of camellia oil heated for 10.0-15.0 h presented a transition from good to deteriorated. Finally, tocopherol entered the degradation stagnation stage, and the quality of camellia oil heated for 17.5-25.0 h gradually deteriorated, accompanied by a high level of volatile compounds and deterioration indicators. Overall, this work comprehensively determined the deterioration of camellia oil during intermittent frying and offered valuable insights for its quality evaluation.

Characterization of Traditional Chinese Sesame Oil by Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Electronic Nose, Sensory Evaluation, and RapidOxy

Xiao Mo Xiang You (XMXY) is a traditional Chinese sesame oil variety that is obtained through a hot water flotation process. This unique process gives the oil a unique aroma, health benefits, and excellent product stability. Although XMXY is always the most expensive among all the sesame oil varieties, it is usually used as a flavoring in many traditional Chinese daily food products and is increasingly popular. In order to reveal the characteristics of the oil, the volatile components, sensory evaluation, and oxidation stability of five XMXY samples were, respectively, analyzed by using headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography−mass spectrometry, an electronic nose, sensory evaluation, and RapidOxy. Comparisons and multidimensional statistical analysis were also carried out to distinguish XMXY from roasted sesame oil (RSO) and cold-pressed sesame oil (CSO) samples. In total, 69 volatiles were identified from XMXY, RSO, and CSO samples. Some compounds possessed high odor activity value (OAV > 1) in XMXY, including heterocyclic compounds, phenols, and sulfur-containing compounds. Additionally, they were also the main volatile components that distinguish XMXY from RSO and CSO. Roasted and nutty aromas were the dominant aroma attributes of XMXY. XMXY had better flavor intensity and oxidation stability than the other two sesame oil samples. These results are very valuable for the quality control and product identification of traditional Chinese sesame oil.

Citrus juice off-flavor during different processing and storage: Review of odorants, formation pathways, and analytical techniques

As the most widespread juice produced and consumed globally, citrus juice (mandarin juice, orange juice, and grapefruit juice) is appreciated for its attractive and distinct aroma. While the decrease of characteristic aroma-active compounds and the formation of off-flavor compounds are easy to occur in processing and storage conditions. This review provides a comprehensive literature of recent research and discovery on citrus juice off-flavor, primarily focusing on off-flavor compounds induced during processing and storage (i.e., thermal, storage, light, oxygen, package, fruit maturity, diseases, centrifugal pretreatment, and debittering process), formation pathways (i.e., terpene acid-catalyzed hydration, caramelization reaction, Maillard reaction, Strecker degradation, and other oxidative degradation) of the off-flavor compounds, effective inhibitor pathway to off-flavor (i.e., electrical treatments, high pressure processing, microwave processing, ultrasound processing, and chemical treatment), as well as odor assessment techniques based on molecular sensory science. The possible precursors (terpenes, sulfur-containing amino acids, carbohydrates, carotenoids, vitamins, and phenolic acids) of citrus juice off-flavor are listed and are also proposed. This review intends to unravel the regularities of aroma variations and even off-flavor formation of citrus juice during processing and storage. Future aroma analysis techniques will evolve toward a colorimetric sensor array for odor visualization to obtain a "marker" of off-flavor in citrus juice.

Extraction of Oils and Phytochemicals from Camellia oleifera Seeds: Trends, Challenges, and Innovations

Camellia seed oil, extracted from the seeds of Camellia oleifera Abel., is popular in South China because of its high nutritive value and unique flavor. Nowadays, the traditional extraction methods of hot pressing extraction (HPE) and solvent extraction (SE) are contentious due to low product quality and high environmental impact. Innovative methods such as supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) and aqueous extraction (AE) are proposed to overcome the pitfalls of the traditional methods. However, they are often limited to the laboratory or pilot scale due to economic or technical bottlenecks. Optimization of extraction processes indicates the challenges in finding the optimal balance between the yield and quality of oils and phytochemicals, as well as the environmental and economic impacts. This article aims to explore recent advances and innovations related to the extraction of oils and phytochemicals from camellia seeds, and it focuses on the pretreatment and extraction processes, as well as their complex effects on nutritional and sensory qualities. We hope this review will help readers to better understand the trends, challenges, and innovations associated with the camellia industry.

Effect of ultrasound on functional properties, flavor characteristics, and storage stability of soybean milk

The effects of different ultrasound treatments (20 kHz at 400 W for 0 to 9 min) on the functional properties, flavor characteristics, and storage stability of soybean milk at 4 °C were investigated. Results indicated that non-sonicated soymilk had the maximum particle size D4, 3 of 2.47 ± 0.47 µm, while 9 min high intensity ultrasound (HIU) decreased D4, 3 to 0.44 ± 0.01 µm. 9 min of HIU decreased the total number of microorganisms in soymilk from 4.51 to 3.95 Log (CFU/mL). Moreover, 9 min HIU increased the absolute value of ζ-potential from 36.43 to 34.13 mV. Turbiscan test showed that 9 min HIU decreased the instability index of soymilk from 0.78 to 0.65. Furthermore, sensory analysis, electronic nose, electronic tongue, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that 7 min HIU decreased the content of aldehydes, furans, ketones, and alcohols by 52.09%, 75.01%, 56.79%, and 57.27%, respectively.

Applications of Chinese Camellia oleifera and its By-Products: A Review

Camellia oleifera is a woody oil tree species unique to China that has been cultivated and used in China for more than 2,300 years. Most biological research on C. oleifera in recent years has focused on the development of new varieties and breeding. Novel genomic information has been generated for C. oleifera, including a high-quality reference genome at the chromosome level. Camellia seeds are used to process high-quality edible oil; they are also often used in medicine, health foods, and daily chemical products and have shown promise for the treatment and prevention of diseases. C. oleifera by-products, such as camellia seed cake, saponin, and fruit shell are widely used in the daily chemical, dyeing, papermaking, chemical fibre, textile, and pesticide industries. C. oleifera shell can also be used to prepare activated carbon electrodes, which have high electrochemical performance when used as the negative electrode of lithium-ion batteries. C. oleifera is an economically valuable plant with diverse uses, and accelerating the utilization of its by-products will greatly enhance its industrial value.

Effects of Radio Frequency Pretreatment on Quality of Tree Peony Seed Oils: Process Optimization and Comparison with Microwave and Roasting

In this study, we explored the technical parameters of tree peony seeds oil (TPSO) after their treatment with radio frequency (RF) at 0 °C-140 °C, and compared the results with microwave (MW) and roasted (RT) pretreatment in terms of their physicochemical properties, bioactivity (fatty acid tocopherols and phytosterols), volatile compounds and antioxidant activity of TPSO. RF (140 °C) pretreatment can effectively destroy the cell structure, substantially increasing oil yield by 15.23%. Tocopherols and phytosterols were enhanced in oil to 51.45 mg/kg and 341.35 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, antioxidant activities for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were significantly improved by 33.26 μmol TE/100 g and 65.84 μmol TE/100 g, respectively (p < 0.05). The induction period (IP) value increased by 4.04 times. These results are similar to those of the MW pretreatment. The contents of aromatic compounds were significantly increased, resulting in improved flavors and aromas (roasted, nutty), by RF, MW and RT pretreatments. The three pretreatments significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacities and oxidative stabilities (p < 0.05). The current findings reveal RF to be a potential pretreatment for application in the industrial production of TPSO.

Highlights of the Fifth International Symposium on Lipid Science and Health

The International Symposium on Lipid Science and Health (ISLSH) has been organized annually by the Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (OCRI-CAAS) since 2016. The purpose of the symposium was to bring together the leading lipid science and health researchers throughout the world to discuss the current state of knowledge as well as research needs with respect to chemistry and beneficial health properties of lipids. The Fifth International Symposium on Lipid Science and Health was held on October 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Speakers from China, the United States, Australia, Finland, and other countries delivered wonderful presentations. The presentations covered such diverse topics as lipid profiling and characterization, lipid preparation and modification, lipid improvement and regulation, and lipid nutrition and health. As a record of the symposium proceedings, this special issue comprises a selection of 27 papers from oral presentations and poster contributions and is prefaced by this introduction.