Using Lipid Profiles for the Characterization of Turkish Monocultivar Olive Oils Produced by Different Systems

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the biochemical profiles of the virgin olive oils produced in various districts of Aegean and South East Anatolia regions of Turkey over two growing seasons (2001–2002). The olive oils were extracted by classic hydraulic pressing, three phase continuous system, Abencor oil method at laboratory scale, and foot oil process from monocultivar Turkish olives, including Ayvalik, Memecik, Nizip Yaglik, Gemlik, Domat, and Uslu. Total phenolics, ortho-diphenols, oxidative stability, and total chlorophylls of the oils differed by location. The cis-trans fatty acids, triacylglycerols, and the actual versus theoretical equivalent carbon number of 42 (ECN 42) triglycerol content (ΔECN42) were within national and international averages. Oil samples from the three phase continuous system had higher total phenolic contents than those of the hydraulic pressure system. Turkish monocultivar virgin olive oil samples were classified by biochemical profiles using the principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses multivariate statistical methods. Clustering analysis defined groups according to growing location. Triacylglycerols and fatty acid profiles can be used for identification of monocultivar olive oils with regard to authenticity and classification.