Abstract
Abstract The phenolic fraction of 34 virgin olive oils was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with the aim to identify new compounds at low level. Twenty-seven compounds previously described in olive oils were identified; several new minor compounds with phenolic structure were detected in the samples: amongst them, 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde , trans -isoeugenol ( trans -2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-phenol), 1,4-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzene, 3,4-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were identified by their mass spectra and confirmed using standards. In 34 virgin olive oils (cv. Nocellara del Belice ) the mean concentrations for these five substances were always below 0.2 mg kg −1 and only in two samples the level of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid reached 1.47 and 1.97 mg kg −1 , respectively. These compounds could be used to characterise olive oils; low concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid may show the initial autoxidation processes of olive oils.
Published Version
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