Abstract

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a spice largely consumed worldwide, but there is still restricted information about its fingerprint. This work aimed to investigate the mineral composition as a possible marker for the classification of cinnamon samples. To this aim, the mineral composition (P, S, Mg, Ca, K, Cu, Zn, B, Fe, Al, Mn, and Si contents) of 56 ground cinnamon samples from different regions of the State of São Paulo, Brazil was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). Principal component analysis was exploited for sample classification, and the microelements presented the best correlation: PC1, PC2, and PC3 explained 93% of the observed variance at 95% confidence level. Si, Al, Fe, and Cu presented the most significant contributions to cluster analysis. Samples were classified into six groups, in which those presenting C. zeylanicum were well clustered, and the samples acquired in bulk as well as those whose labels declared traces of grains and/or spices presented the highest variability. Thus, it was pioneeringly demonstrated the possibility of identifying C. zeylanicum in commercial cinnamon powders, using microelements as authenticity markers.

Highlights

  • Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a spice originally from Asia, largely used worldwide for feeding and medicinal aims [1]

  • A typical fraud involves mislabeling with other lower-cost products with a similar composition, such as Cinnamomum cassia

  • Principal component analysis was exploited for sample classification

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Summary

Introduction

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a spice originally from Asia, largely used worldwide for feeding and medicinal aims [1]. It presents a rich volatile composition, including bioactive compounds, such as cinnamic acid, cinnamate, and cinnamaldehyde [1,2]. Spices are one of the most frequent and vulnerable foods to fraud worldwide [4]. The rising prices of cinnamon and the complexity of its production chain contribute to explain this vulnerability [4,5,6]. A typical fraud involves mislabeling with other lower-cost products with a similar composition, such as Cinnamomum cassia

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