Abstract
This research presents, for the first time, full volatile profiles of four aerial parts of caper plants (Capparis spinosa L.) from southeastern Spain. Volatile compounds in caper leaves and stems (together), flowers, flower buds, and fruits from two cultivars were identified and quantified using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). Forty-three volatile compounds were identified in the caper shoots, 32 in caper flowers, with only 18, 10, and 6 compounds being found in flower buds, leaves, and fruits, respectively. The predominant compound in all studied materials was methyl isothiocyanate, with nerolidol, trans-2-hexenal, and nonanal playing key roles in flowers, leaves, and flowers buds, respectively. The two studied cultivars had the same volatile compounds but at very different concentrations, although the two studied cultivars are cultivated under the same climatic and agronomic conditions. Additionally, the predominant compounds, especially methyl isothiocyanate (6882 mg·kg−1 fw in flower buds of ORI 3 cultivar), can be separated and concentrated for future applications in food technology.
Highlights
Headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used to isolate the volatile compounds, while the gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) and FID detector (GC-FID) were used to identify and quantify these compounds, respectively. ese analyses were conducted in the aerial parts of caper plants of two cultivars grown on the same plot. e information generated will help us understand the cultivar differences that may exist in the composition of volatile compounds in two cultivars grown under the same agronomic conditions
Results indicated that the predominant volatile component in all aerial parts of the caper was methyl isothiocyanate. is compound is responsible for the pungent scent of the caper plant
Results showed that the two cultivars (“Orihuela 3” (ORI3)” and “Orihuela 7” (ORI7)”) had the same volatile profile but compounds were present at very different concentrations, plants were grown under the same climatic and agronomic conditions, indicating that they are cultivar-dependent
Summary
Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae) has its origin in the regions of Central or Western Asia, but it is distributed in Southern Europe, North and East Africa, Madagascar, Southwest and Central Asia, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Oceania [1]. e species of the genus Capparis have been widely studied and used for edible or medicinal purposes, for its content in bioactive compounds and its numerous beneficial effects on antisclerosis, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiasthmatic, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, and antifungal agents and diuretics, astringents, and tonics properties [2]. e infusion of stems and root crust were used as antidiarrheal and febrifuge remedies; fresh fruits were used for sciatica and dropsy; the combination of dried fruit and powder with honey was used to treat colds, gout, sciatica, and back pain, and it was applied in the body for the treatment of epilepsy. Ere are works describing the main physicochemical characteristics of the caper fruits at 3 phenological states [4] and of the flower buds at 6 stages of development [5] and the phenological profile in Spanish cultivars [6]. There are few previous studies describing the volatile profiles Capparis spinosa L. cultivars. This is the first work studying the chemical volatile profile of capers grown in Spain (Orihuela, Alicante), and it is intended to evaluate the different aerial parts: stems and leaves, flowers, flower buds, and caper fruit. E rest of the aerial capper parts are edible and have specific aroma and flavor. Ese analyses were conducted in the aerial parts of caper plants of two cultivars grown on the same plot. Headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used to isolate the volatile compounds, while the gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) and FID detector (GC-FID) were used to identify and quantify these compounds, respectively. ese analyses were conducted in the aerial parts of caper plants of two cultivars grown on the same plot. e information generated will help us understand the cultivar differences that may exist in the composition of volatile compounds in two cultivars grown under the same agronomic conditions
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