Characterization of Volatile Compounds of Rosa roxburghii Tratt by Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry, Quantitative Measurements, Odor Activity Value, and Aroma Intensity

Chemical diversity, traditional uses, and bioactivities of Rosa roxburghii Tratt: A comprehensive review

Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT), known as chestnut rose, has been a subject of growing interest because of its diverse chemical composition and wide range of traditional uses. This comprehensive review aimed to thoroughly examine RRT, including its traditional applications, chemical diversity, and various bioactivities. The chemical profile of this plant is characterized by the presence of essential nutrients such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), flavonoids, triterpenes, organic acids, tannins, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, carotenoids, triterpenoids, volatile compounds, amino acids, and essential oils. These constituents contribute to the medicinal and nutritional value. Additionally, we explore the multifaceted bioactivities of RRT, including its potential as an anticancer agent, antioxidant, antiaging agent, antiatherogenic agent, hypoglycemic agent, immunoregulatory modulator, radioprotective agent, antimutagenic agent, digestive system regulator, anti-inflammatory agent, cardioprotective agent, and antibacterial agent, and its intriguing role in modulating the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we discuss the geographical distribution and genetic diversity of this plant species and shed light on its ecological significance. This comprehensive review provides a holistic understanding of RRT, bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary scientific research, and highlights its potential applications in medicine, nutrition, and pharmacology.

Analysis of Volatile Components in Rosa roxburghii Tratt. and Rosa sterilis Using Headspace-Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flavor characteristics of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. (RR) and Rosa sterilis (RS) were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The flavor network was constructed by combining relative odor activity values (ROAVs), and the signature differential flavor components were screened using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest (RF). The results showed that 61 VOCs were detected in both RR and RS: 48 in RR, and 26 in RS. There were six key flavor components (ROAVs ≥ 1) in RR, namely nonanal, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, (3Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, ethyl caprylate, and styrene, among which ethyl butanoate had the highest contribution, whereas there were eight key flavor components (ROAVs ≥ 1) in RS, namely 2-nonanol, (E)-2-hexenal, nonanal, methyl salicylate, β-ocimene, caryophyllene, α-ionone, and styrene, among which nonanal contributed the most to RS. The flavor of RR is primarily fruity, sweet, green banana, and waxy, while the flavor of RS is primarily sweet and floral. In addition, OPLS-DA and RF suggested that (E)-2-hexenal, ethyl caprylate, β-ocimene, and ethyl butanoate could be the signature differential flavor components for distinguishing between RR and RS. In this study, the differences in VOCs between RR and RS were analyzed to provide a basis for further development and utilization.

Aroma correlation assisted volatilome coupled network analysis strategy to unveil main aroma-active volatiles of Rosa roxburghii

To investigate the main aroma-active volatiles out from comprehensive chemical profile, we proposed an aroma correlation assisted volatilome coupled network analysis strategy and applied it to the study of Rosa roxburghii. Based on 475 detected volatiles with GC × GC-TOF/MS analysis, the volatilome was screened with both positive aroma activities and high contents to discover some aliphatic acids, alcohols, aldehydes and esters, terpenoids as well as some alkenes and ketones. Especially, a series of homologous C6- and C8- acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters as well as some terpenoids like limonene take the predominant contributions to the aromas. Moreover, two aroma-active and aroma-contributing volatile groups including acid-aldehyde-alcohol-ester and terpenoid groups were clustered to integrally be responsible for the major aromas of R. roxburghii with network analysis. Additionally, the accumulation of C6- and C8-family homologous aliphatic volatiles was also elucidated with linoleic and linolenic acid derived pathways. This strategy is practical to investigate the main aroma-active volatiles based on volatilome.

Characterization of aroma compounds in Rosa roxburghii Tratt using solvent-assisted flavor evaporation headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-olfactometry

Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) has become popular owing to its high vitamin C content. Volatiles are important factors that affect the quality of RRTs and their processed products. In this study, volatile compounds were extracted using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE); 143 volatile compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and RRT from different origins were well distinguished based on principal component analysis. 45 odor-active components were identified using gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). Through quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), there were prominent "grassy" and "tea-like" attributes in RRT. Partial least-squares regression (PLSR) revealed that Longli RRT was greatly related to "tea-like" and "woody" attributes. Among the volatiles identified, alcohols and esters were considered the dominant volatile compounds of RRT, 4-methoxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone was the most prominent compound. This study enriches the flavor chemistry theory of RRT and provides a scientific basis for optimizing the aroma of RRT and its processed products.

A Comparative Study of Yeasts for Rosa roxburghii Wine Fermentation

Wine produced by fermentation of Chestnut rose (Rosa roxburghii) hips, known as cili (Chinese-Mandarin), in Guizhou province, and other places in China is becoming popular but there is limited knowledge of suitable yeast strains for its production. In this study, we first investigated the oenological properties of six commercial S. cerevisiae yeast strains (X16, F33, SH12, GV107, S102, RMS2), one commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. bayanus (S103), one commercial, non-Saccharomyces yeast strain, Torulaspora delbrueckii Prelude, and one indigenous S. cerevisiae strain, CZ, for cili wine fermentation. We measured the key traits of each of the yeast strains, viz., sulfite resistance, flocculation, hydrogen sulfide production capacity, fermentation rate, and yeast growth curves. Subsequently, we measured the resultant wine characteristics, viz., pH, alcohol content, residual sugar, titratable acidity, volatile acidity, ascorbic acid content and headspace volatile compounds. The overall suitability of each yeast type was evaluated using a multi-factor, unweighted, scorecard. On that basis, RMS2 was the most suitable, and closely followed by CZ and X16. This study is the first comparative evaluation of yeasts for cili wine production and provides a preliminary guide for their selection.