Evaluation of possible fraud in avocado oil-based products from the composition of fatty acids by GC-FID and lipid profile by ESI-MS

Abstract

Avocado oil-based products have therapeutic properties for human skin and are increasingly being produced by the cosmetics industry; however, for being expensive products, they may be targets of fraud. This study evaluated the authenticity of avocado oil-based Brazilian cosmetics using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector for fatty acid composition and lipid profile analysis using direct infusion by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Principal component analysis in combination with ESI-MS divided the authentic and fraudulent sample groups, confirming the efficiency of lipid profile analysis. Of the eight brands analyzed, three were authentic; three contained only soybean oil (SO) being considered totally adulterated, since they presented lipid profile similar to SO and in two were added SO, but also had avocado oil characteristics. Our results revealed the occurrence of fraud by addition SO, which is a cheaper oil and, if added in the avocado oil-based products, may compromise the quality and therapeutic effectiveness of these cosmetics.