Oil Chemical Composition Research Articles

Population Status and Resin Quality of Frankincense Boswellia neglecta (Burseraceae) Growing in South Omo, Southwestern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT A study was conducted in South Omo Zone, Ethiopia with the aim of assessing the population status of the frankincense tree Boswellia neglecta and investigating its resin essential oil chemical composition. The status of populations of B. neglecta was assessed by examining the density, abundance, frequency, dominance, importance value index, and population structure. Resin sample was analyzed for the physicochemical properties. The composition of the essential oil was analyzed with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The high values of density, abundance, frequency, dominance, and importance value index for B. neglecta showed the potential of the tree for bulk resin collection. Boswellia neglecta had a bell-shaped diameter distribution indicating a hampered regeneration. The B. neglecta resin had a moisture content of 2.68%, ash content of 0.99%, pH of 5.7, and oil yield of 5.92%. The resin possessed good quality as compared to resins in other reports. The essential oil was optically active (−31.6° at 23.2°C). The essential oil contained several compounds, but 71.1% of the composition were formed mainly from methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl palmitate, which have not been reported from B. neglecta. Sustainable management must be enacted since the agro-pastoralist mode of life hinders regeneration of the species and its resin resources.

Productivity and essential oil quality of Dracocephalum kotschyi under organic and chemical fertilization conditions

Organic manures play an important role in the growth and biomass of aromatic and medicinal plants leading to organic and cleaner production. Also, organic manures can improve chemical compositions and the quality of aromatic and medicinal plants. Hence, a field experiment was conducted to study the usage of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on biomass, essential oil content, essential oil yield and chemical compositions of Dracocephalum kotschyi Bioss (D. kotschyi) in the first and second cuttings. The treatments consisted of: broiler litter, cow manure, sheep manure, chemical fertilizer and the control (without fertilizer). The results showed that the highest aboveground biomass and essential oil yield of D. kotschyi was obtained in plants treated with broiler litter in both cuttings. All treatments in the second cutting showed higher aboveground biomass and essential oil yield as compared with the first cutting. Plants amended with broiler litter and sheep manure had the highest essential oil content in the first and second cuttings, respectively. Neral, geranial, geranyl acetate and α-pinene were major chemical compounds of D. kotschyi in both cuttings. At the first cutting, the maximum content of neral (28.24%) and geranial (26.85%) were recorded in plants treated with sheep manure and chemical fertilizer, respectively. In the first cutting, the greatest α-pinene content (15.52%) was achieved in the control treatment that had insignificant difference with the broiler litter. Unlike the first cutting, plants amended with cow manure had maximum content of neral (23.89%) and geranial (29.27%) content upon the second cutting. The present study indicated that the usage of organic manures by improving of photosynthetic conditions and increasing of biomass lead to improve the quality and aroma profile of D. kotschyi.

ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ORIGANUM COMPACTUM BENTH FROM TAOUNATE PROVINCE, NORTH MOROCCO

Objective: Origanum compactum is one of the most important medicinal species in terms of ethnobotany in Morocco. It attracts the attention of several research works; however, its chemical composition under local conditions is not well documented. Here, we aimed at determining essential oil chemical composition, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities of organic extracts of O. compactum.
 Methods: Antimicrobial activities were assessed against four strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans). Antioxidant activities were estimated by radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity. Polyphenols and flavonoids were determined. Chemical composition was screened using gas chromatography.
 Results: Our results showed that yield extracts varied significantly among solvents and ranged from 10.30% (n-hexane) to 31.70% (methanolic). Methanolic extracts had the highest values of yield, polyphenols, and flavonoids, while n-hexane extracts showed the lowest values of yield and polyphenols. Regarding antimicrobial activities, E. coli showed the most important activity. Concerning antioxidant activities, n-hexane extracts had the most important activity. The phytochemical screening revealed 12 compounds. Among them, γ-Terpinene, o-Cymene, and carvacrol were the major compounds (around 73% of total chemical compounds).
 Conclusion: It could be concluded that the studied plant might be a promising source of chemical compounds responsible for important biological activities.

Valorization of Flaxseed Oil Cake Residual from Cold-Press Oil Production as a Material for Preparation of Spray-Dried Functional Powders for Food Applications as Emulsion Stabilizers.

Flaxseed oil cake extract (residual from cold-press oil production and rich in proteins and polysaccharides) was evaluated as a potential substrate for the preparation of spray-dried powders with emulsifying activity. Three variants of powders were obtained using different spray-drying process inlet temperatures: 160 °C, 180 °C, and 200 °C. The influence of temperature on physicochemical features (water holding capacity, oil binding capacity, water activity, solubility, color, chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and surface morphology) of the powders was estimated. Additionally, the emulsifying activity of the powders and the stability of oil-in-water emulsions prepared with their various content (0.5%, 1%, and 3%) were determined. Results showed that inlet temperature had significant influence on all physicochemical and functional properties of the powders. Increased inlet temperature decreased solubility and antioxidant activity but increased water-holding capacity, oil-binding capacity, and emulsifying activity. The emulsions prepared with the powder obtained at 200 °C showed the highest stability. SEM images showed the production of relatively spherical particles which were folded or wrinkled with a lot of dentures. This study could open a promising pathway for producing natural and plant-based spray-dried powders for food applications as emulsion stabilizers.

Quality parameters of radish seed oil obtained using compressed propane as solvent

The extraction of radish seed oil (RSO) with subcritical propane (SP) was investigated. The effects of pressure (6 and 10 MPa) and temperature (303 and 333 K) on the oil yield and chemical composition of the RSO were determined and the results were compared with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and Soxhlet extractor (SE) using n-hexane. The operating conditions investigated with SP had little influence on the RSO yield; however, the solubility was greatest at 333 K and 10 MPa, which provided 75 % of the SE yield and similar results to those obtained with UAE. RSO showed a predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids, which gives it less susceptible characteristics to auto-oxidation. The tocopherol content was not affected by the SP conditions, while the higher temperature (333 K) favored the removal of phytosterols. The quality of the oil extracted with SP was superior to that obtained with the other techniques regarding the phytosterols and acylglycerols contents and the oxidative induction time.

Comparison of Yield Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils Obtained from Thymus pallidus and Thymus satureioides Coss. Grown in Wild and Cultivated Conditions in Morocco

Thymus pallidus and Thymus satureioides are two endemic Moroccan species of thyme that belong to the Lamiaceae family. They are exploited intensively from the wild for their essential oils (EOs) which are characterized by numerous therapeutic properties. In order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of these species, the effect of cultivation on yield, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of EOs were investigated over the course of three years. A slight decrease of EOs yield was obtained by steam distillation from cultivated thymes. As well as the yield, the scanning electron microscopy analysis of the leaves has also showed a decrease in the gland density. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC/Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) analyses of EOs led to the identification of 32 compounds representing more than 98.4 % of the total oils. The major compounds of wild T. pallidus EOs were γ-terpinene (20.23-21.49 %), borneol (12.33-12.39 %) and α-phellandrene (11.63-12.58 %). Whereas EOs obtained from cultivated plants were dominated by γ-terpinene (17.27-17.32 %), borneol (12.39-8.3 %), camphene (10.67-10.97 %) and α-phellandrene (10.57-10.71 %). Carvacrol (26.07-26.18 %) and borneol (17.25-20.67 %) were the main chemical constituents in both wild and cultivated T. satureioides EOs. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the EOs of cultivated thymes were not highly affected by cultivation. Despite some chemical variability, our results show that cultivation also did not affect the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of both species. These results imply that the cultivation process could be a promising alternative to ensure the sustainable use of the two endemic thyme species in threat.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ СОИ СЕВЕРНОГО ЭКОТИПА НА БИОТОПЛИВО

The paper presents the results of long-term research on the oil productivity and chemical composition of soybean oil of the Northern ecotype varieties in the Central Non-Black Earth Region. The authors consider its possible use for biodiesel production. Experiments on growing soybeans were carried out on the experimental fi eld of Russian State Agrarian University –Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy (2008-2019) on recognized ultra-early ripening varieties of the Northern ecotype Mageva, Svetlaya, Okskaya (ripeness group 000). Tests were set and the research results were analyzed using standard approved methods. It has been shown that in conditions of high latitudes (57°N), limited thermal resources of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia (the sum of active temperatures of the growing season not exceeding 2000°С), the yield and productivity of soybeans depend on the variety and moisture supply. Over the years, the average yield of soybeans amounted to 1.94 … 2.62 t/ha, oil productivity – 388 … 544 kg/ha, oil content – 19…20%, the content of oleic and linoleic fatty acids in oil – 60%, and their output from seeds harvested – 300 kg/ha. It has been established that as soybean oil and diesel fuel have similar properties,they can be mixed by conventional methods in any proportions and form stable blends that can be stored for a long time. Experimental studies on the use of soybean oil for biodiesel production were carried out on a D-245 diesel engine (4 ChN11/12.5). The concentrations of toxic components (CO, CHx, and NOx) in the diesel exhaust gases were determined using the SAE-7532 gas analyzer. The smoke content of the exhaust gases was measured with an MK-3 Hartridge opacimeter. It has been experimentally established that the transfer of a diesel engine from diesel fuel to a blend of 80% diesel fuel and 20% lubrication oil leads to a change in the integral emissions per test cycle: nitrogen oxides in 0.81 times, carbon monoxide in 0.89 times and unburned hydrocarbons in 0.91 times, i.e. when biodiesel as used as a motor fuel in a serial diesel engine, emissions of all gaseous toxic components are reduced. The study has confi rmed the expediency of using soybeans of the Northern ecotype for biofuel production.

Poejo (Cunila galioides Benth.) Production in Five Agroecological Regions of Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass and essential oil production of nine populations of poejo (Cunila galioides) cultivated in five agroecological regions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, under different edaphoclimatic conditions. The experiments were performed in field conditions in Erechim, Caxias do Sul, Pelotas, Sao Francisco de Paula, and Santa Vitoria do Palmar. The experimental design was completely randomized, with nine populations, eight plants per plot and four repetitions. The following were evaluated: biomass production and essential oil chemical composition and yield. The data underwent ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple range test. The adaptability and stability of the populations in the different environments were also evaluated by regression analysis. The results showed great differences between the populations and cultivation sites, with genotype vs. environment interaction. Most populations presented the best biomass production results at Erechim. Pelotas and Santa Vitoria do Palmar were the worst locations for poejo production, mainly due to a water deficit occurred during the experiment. The Santa Lucia population presented broad stability and the greatest adaptability to the environments for biomass and essential oil production, but its average production was not satisfactory. The Andre da Rocha population presented the highest average production of essential oil, and was favored in favorable environments. Regarding essential oil chemical composition, the populations kept stable contents of the major compounds at all locations, with a few variations. In some populations, a higher concentration of sesquiterpenes was observed, which can be attributed to environmental stress.

Qualitative Determination, Quantitative Evaluation and Comparative Insecticidal Potential of Ruta Graveolens Essential Oil and Its Major Constituents in the Management of Two Stored Pests Sitophilus Zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) And Corcyra Cephalon

Eco-chemical control based on essential oil mediated plant-insect interactions is an alternative method to the unsystematic use of insecticides, due to advanced structural diversity and allelopathic potential of essential oils. In this sense, present work was aimed at qualitative and quantitative investigation of chemical composition and the evaluation of insecticidal activities of Ruta graveolens essential oil and its major constituents against Sitophilus zeamais and Corcyra cephalonica in stored maize. Fresh leaves were subjected to hydrodistillaton and the chemical composition of oil was studied. Essential oil and its major constituents were then assessed for their allelopathic activity on test insects. Fifty components were identified, where long chain aliphatic 2-methyl ketones predominated the oil as major constituents. Results revealed strong concentration-, insect species- and time-dependent toxicities, in which oil caused 100 % mortalities at concentrations of 1.52 and 0.46 µL/cm2 against S. zeamais and C. cephalonica respectively after 24 hours of exposure. In aliphatic 2-methyl ketone series, respective congeners having odd and even number of carbon atoms were more effective on S. zeamais and C. cephalonica. These findings provide a scientific basis for the eco-potential of using essential oil of R. graveolens and its major constituents in integrated insect pest management programs.

Preen oil chemical composition in herring gull Larus argentatus, common gull Larus canus and black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus confirms their status as two separate genera

Fatty acid and alcohol components of preen oil were determined in three gull species that belong to two systematic genera: herring gull Larus argentatus, common gull Larus canus and black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus. All gulls were captured in winter, in Gdańsk, Poland. All gulls produced monoesters composed of C7–C16 saturated fatty acids and C11–C20 saturated alcohols, with n-octanoic acid and n-hexadecanol as the major fatty acid and alcohol, respectively. Preen oils of black-headed gull had higher content of trimethyl fatty acids, 2,8-dimethylundecanoic acid, 2,6-dimethylundecanoic acid and 2,6-dimethylnonanoic acid, and lower content of 2-methyl fatty acids than oils of herring gull and common gull. Preen oils produced by black-headed gull also had lower content of 2-methyl alcohols. The relative contents of n-octanoic acid and n-hexadecanol did not differ among species. The differences among species are probably not a result of different diet, as all gulls fed mainly on household refuse. Hence, preen oil analysis confirmed the taxonomic relations among these gull species, that recently were placed into two different genera.

Content and composition of the essential oil of Artemisia annua in two harvest times

Artemisia annua is traditionally used in the treatment for malaria due to presence of the active principle artemisinin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the essential oil content and chemical composition of A. annua submitted to four doses of mineral fertilization in two harvest times. The seedlings of A. annua were cultivated in 10 L pots kept in a greenhouse. The tested doses of mineral fertilization were the following: without fertilization (D0), 50% of the recommended dose (D1), recommended dose (D2), and 150% of the recommended dose (D3). The samples for extracting the essential oils were collected at 60 and 125 days after transplantation (DAT). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Identification and relative percentage of the compounds of the essential oil were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The highest essential oil content obtained was 0.81% using the dose D0 at 60 DAT. The increase of the dose of mineral fertilization indicated a disadvantage with the reduction of the essential oil content in the two harvesting times. The major constituents found in the essential oil were camphor and borneol. The results indicate that A. annua could be an alternative source of borneol and camphor, active component with use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activities of Capparis spinosa essential oils from Algeria

Abstract. Benachour H, Ramdani M, Lograda T, Chalard P, Figueredo J. 2020. Chemical composition and antibacterial activities of Capparis spinosa essential oils from Algeria. Biodiversitas 21: 161-169. The essential oils of Capparis spinosa L. collected from six locations in Algeria were obtained by hydro-distillation. The chemical composition of oils was performed by GC-MS. The disc diffusion method is applied for the antibacterial activity. The extraction produced low yield (0.03%). The result of chromatographic analysis (GC/MS) leads to the identification of 33 components; palmitic acid (38.19%), nonanal-n (12.61%), cymene-2,5-dimethoxy-para (8.94%) and octacosane (5.49%) were the major components of these oils. The result of cluster analysis based on essential oils constituents showed the presence of three chemotypes,i.e., the chemotype of Nonanal-n-Cymen 2,5 dimethoxy para-Dodecanal, the chemotype of Nonanal-n-Hexadecanoic acid-tetracosane and the chemotype Tetracosane-n-pentyl furane-2-octacosane. In-vitro antimicrobial activity of caper oils against nine bacterial species showed that the oils have no activity against E. coli and have modest activities against eight other bacterial species tested; however, the desirability test shows that the oils used were not effective on the bacteria tested.

Therapeutic Potential of Citronella Essential Oil: A Review.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, filariasis, chikunguniya, yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis are the major cause of remarkable morbidity and mortality in livestock and humans worldwide. Since ancient times, aromatic plants are used for their medicinal value. Essential oils derived from these plants may be used as effective alternatives/adjuvants in pharmaceuticals, biomedical, cosmetic, food, veterinary and agriculture applications. These oils have also gained popularity and interest for prevention and treatment of various disorders. However, several reports on adverse effects including skin eruption, contact artricaria or toxic encephalopathy in children are available for synthetic repellent in the literature. Thus, natural insect repellents like essential oils have been explored recently as an alternative. One such essential oil studied widely, is citronella oil, extracted mainly from Cymbopogon nardus. This essential oil has exhibited good efficacy against mosquitoes. It is a mixture of components including citronellal, citronellol, geraniol as major constituents contributing to various activities (antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant antitrypanosomal and wound healing), besides mosquito repellent action. Citronella essential oil is registered in US EPA (Environmental protection agency) as insect repellent due to its high efficacy, low toxicity and customer satisfaction. However, poor stability in the presence of air and high temperature limits its practical applications. Since specific knowledge on properties and chemical composition of oil is fundamental for its effective application, the present review compiles and discusses biological properties of citronella oil. It also sheds light on various formulations and applications of this essential oil.

Seasonal Variation in Essential Oil Content, Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Teucrium polium L. Growing in Mascara (North West of Algeria)

Introduction Phytochemicals are one wide class of nutraceuticals found in plants which act as antioxidants. In this research, the essential oil (EO) of Teucrium polium L., Lamiaceae, collected from Mascara province, situated in the Algerian northwestern, where their chemical composition varies according to geographical origin, season variation, and climatic conditions were studied. Materials and Methods The extraction of EO was performed by hydrodistillation. Then, the chemical compounds were identified by gaz chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC–MS). In parallel, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH test. Results The yield of the EO of T. polium L. varied during different seasons with the highest in winter season, at vegetative stage (S1), while the same EO (S1) was significantly more efficient as an antioxidant than the EO harvasted at the flowering stage (S2) with IC50 values 3.90±0.05, 16.14±0.15 mg/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). These extracts are predominantly constituted by limonene (29.87%-26.39%), spathulenol (17.24%-13.29%), camphor (0.0%-8.20%), pinocarvone (7.76%-5.60%), tau-cadinol (5.41%-3.67%), pinene oxide (0.0%-4.78%), α-terpineol (0.0%-4.6%), 1-adamantanemethylamine (0.0%-9.80%) and β- myrcene (0.0%-4.02%). Conclusions The results show that both EOs can be considered as potential sources of natural antioxidants. However, the vegetative stage was the best stage for harvesting the EO of T. polium L. which can be used as an alternative source of synthetic compounds.

A new process for green extraction of essential oil from Eucalyptus oleosa: Microwave-assisted hydro distillation

In this work, the potential of microwave-assisted Hydro-distillation (MAHD) process was evaluated for the extraction of Tunisian Eucalyptus oleosa essential oils and the results were compared with those of the conventional Hydro-distillation (HD) in terms of extraction time, essential oil yield, chemical composition, energy consumption and environmental impact. Results show that essential oil obtained by MAHD was quantitatively like those obtained by HD, but MAHD offered net advantages in terms of saving energy and extraction time (90 min against 25 min). In addition, the quality of the essential oil is improved thanks to a 50.42% increase in oxygenates compounds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses of E. oleosa tissue structure before and after extraction were used as confirmation that microwave technique was faster than conventional HD. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of MAHD as a quick, green and efficient alternative for the extraction of essential oil from medicinal plants.

First Study on the Oxidative Stability and Elemental Analysis of Babassu (Attalea speciosa) Edible Oil Produced in Brazil Using a Domestic Extraction Machine.

Interest in edible oil extraction processes is growing interest because the final nutritional quality of the extracted oil depends on the procedure used to obtain ir. In this context, a domestic cold oil press machine is a valuable tool that avoids the use of chemicals during oil extraction, in an environmentally friendly way. Although babassu (Attalea speciosa) oil is economically important in several Brazilian regions due to its nutritional and healthy features, few studies have been conducted on the chemical composition and stability of babassu oils extracted by cold pressing. Babassu oil’s major constituents are saturated fatty acids (~86.42%), with the most prevalent fatty acids being lauric (~47.40%), myristic (15.64%), and oleic (~11.28%) acids, respectively, within the recommended range by Codex Alimentarius, presenting atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes favorable for human consumption. Peroxide value, Rancimat, and TGA/DSC results indicated that babassu oil is stable to oxidation. Also, macro- (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) and micro-elements (Fe, Mn, Cr, Se, Al, and Zn) of babassu oil were determined, revealing levels below the tolerable upper intake level (ULs) for adults. These findings demonstrated that cold-press extraction using a domestic machine yielded a high-quality oil that kept oil chemical composition stable to oxidation with natural antioxidants.

Effect of dissolution, evaporation, and photooxidation on crude oil chemical composition, dielectric properties and its radar signature in the Arctic environment.

Accidental release of petroleum in the Arctic is of growing concern owing to increases in ship traffic and possible future oil exploration. A crude oil-in-sea ice mesocosm experiment was conducted to identify oil-partitioning trends in sea ice and determine the effect of weathering on crude oil permittivity. The dissolution of the lighter fractions increased with decreasing bulk oil-concentration because of greater oil-brine interface area. Movement of the oil towards the ice surface predominated over dissolution process when oil concentrations exceeded 1 mg/mL. Evaporation decreased oil permittivity due to losses of low molecular weight alkanes and increased asphaltene-resin interactions. Photooxidation increased the permittivity of the crude oil due to the transformation of branched aromatics to esters and ketones. Overall, the weathering processes influenced crude oil permittivity by up to 15%, which may produce sufficient quantifiable differences in the measured normalized radar cross-section of the ice.

Chemical compositions and antioxidant activity of essential oil of wild and cultivated Dracocephalum kotschyi grown in different ecosystems: A comparative study

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. (D. kotachyi), is an aromatic and perennial plant endemic to Iran. This plant is commonly used for the treatment of headache, congestion, stomach and also liver disorders. Furthermore, antihyperlipidemic, immunomodulatory, antinociceptive, cytotoxic and antispasmodic effects have already been reported for D. kotachyi. However, no information is available about environmental factors' impact on the quantity and quality of this plant. The objectives of this study were to compare the biomass, essential oil content, chemical compositions and antioxidant activity of D. kotachyi in three different (natural, agricultural and controlled) ecosystems. In order to do that, the plant samples were selected from each ecosystem in which they consisted of: two natural ecosystems (Nat. 1: altitude of 3040 m and Nat. 2: altitude of 3646 m), two agricultural ecosystems (Agr. 1: altitude of 2539 m and Agr. 2: altitude of 2589 m), and two controlled (Con. 1: altitude of 2393 m and Con. 2: altitude of 2393 m). The results indicated that the maximum aboveground biomass (29.21 g/plant) of D. kotschyi belonged to the sample of the Agr. 2. Also, the samples of Nat. 1 and Con. 1, possessed higher oil essential content as compared with other ecosystems. The highest antioxidant activity of D. kotschyi was obtained in the sample of Con. 1 under the application of broiler litter. According to the findings, Neral (20.29%-28.24%), geranial (17.32%–26.36%), geranyl acetate (7.16%–20.82%) and α-pinene (11%–15.09%) were identified as major chemical compounds of D. kotschyi in all samples except in the Nat. 2. The major chemical compositions in the Nat. 2 ecosystem were trans-carveol (52.65%), limonene (20.13%), geranyl acetate (9.52%) and geranial (4.13%). In general, the cultivation of D. kotschyi treated with broiler litter (Con. 1) leaded to high essential oil content, main chemical compositions and the highest antioxidant activity. Hence, it could be applied as a valuable medicinal plant in various industries and can be considered as an alternative to protect this plant in the natural ecosystems.

Underwater Superoleophobic Crucian Fish Scale: Influence of Ontogeny on Surface Morphologies and Wettability

Recent development concerning underwater superoleophobic surface has been motivated by fish scales, which are rendered capable of preventing their surfaces from contamination in oil-polluted water. In this paper, for the first time, the variations in surface topography and chemical composition of crucian fish scales at different growth stages have been investigated. The water and oil contact angles, surface morphology and chemical composition of the fish scales were measured by means of contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. It is found that surface morphology and chemical composition both have influences on surface wettability of fish scales; fish scale at infant period seems to possess better hydrophilicity than that of fish scales at mature and senescent period. What is more, it is believed that the wettability heavily depends on the surface structures during their growth procedure, which enlightens us to design and fabricate biomimetic multifunctional underwater superoleophobic surfaces inspired by nature.

Assessment of Vibrational Spectroscopy Performance in Geographical Identification of Virgin Olive Oils: A World Level Study

AbstractIn order to guarantee food integrity, testing methods should also include the tools needed to verify the geographical origin described on the label. In the particular case of virgin olive oil (VOO), regulatory bodies have yet to establish a standard for geographical identification. This manuscript describes a procedure based on Raman spectroscopy to identify the provenance of these oils based on a classification criterion (European vs non‐European VOOs). The sample collection is considered a relevant step in which multiple factors are taken into account (cultivar distribution, complexity of production in each location, new agricultural practices, and new/old cultivars). A total of 78 virgin olive oils collected around the world allow checking the classification accuracy of the model for identifying sample origin. The PLS‐model built around the Raman spectroscopic data is validated with a blind set of samples, and the results are evaluated in terms of false negative and false positive quality parameters. This study provides an analytical application to detect mislabeling and fraudulent practices related to the geographical provenance of virgin olive oils declared on the labels.Practical Applications: The results of this study provide a robust mathematical model to assess the origin of virgin olive oils (EU vs non‐EU) based on spectroscopic data. Nowadays, the extensive knowledge of olive oil chemical composition has proven that this composition varies according to pedoclimatic conditions, while non‐targeted methods can be proposed in geographical traceability for their ability to analyze the chemical profile of samples. However, it was deemed necessary to conduct a study through a collaborative work initiative. Thus, this study provides a strict evaluation of Raman spectroscopy through a defined strategy for evaluating non‐targeted methods for geographical identification.