Olfactory and quantitative analysis of volatiles in elderberry (Sambucus nigra L) juice processed from seven cultivars

Abstract

Aroma compounds emitted from elderberry juices processed from seven cultivars were collected by the dynamic headspace technique and analysed by GC–FID and GC–MS. Forty aroma compounds were identified and quantified, including nine compounds which had not previously been detected in elderberry juice. Significant differences were found among cultivars in the concentration levels of 30 compounds. The sensory characteristics of the individual aroma compounds in elderberry juice were determined by a GC-sniffing technique, and the compounds were grouped according to their odour. The characteristic elderberry odour is due to dihydroedulan and β-damascenone, of which the former occurs in relatively high concentrations in the headspace of elderberry juice. The fruity group consisted of aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes and aromatic esters, of which 1-pentanal, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2- and 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octanal, 1-octanol and methyl and ethyl benzoate contributed with fruity notes. In the flowery group, 1-nonanal, nerol oxide and (Z)- and (E)-rose oxide contributed with characteristic elder flower odour, whereas other flowery notes were associated with hotrienol, linalool and α-terpineol. Fresh and grassy odours were correlated with 1-hexanal, (E)-2-hexen-1-al, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol and (E)-2-octen-1-al of the grassy group, whereas 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octen-3-one of the agrestic group contributed significantly with the characteristic aroma of mushrooms. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry