1H NMR metabolite fingerprint and pattern recognition of mullet (Mugil cephalus) bottarga

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Sep 14;59(17):9497-505. doi: 10.1021/jf2012979. Epub 2011 Aug 22.

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis (MVA) was used to investigate the molecular components of the aqueous extract of samples of bottarga, that is, salted and dried mullet (Mugil cephalus) roe, manufactured in Sardinia (Italy) from mullets of known and unknown geographical provenience. Principal component analysis (PCA) applied to the processed (1)H NMR spectra indicated that samples tend to cluster according to their geographical origin and also on the basis of storage and manufacturing procedures. The most important metabolites that characterized grouping of samples are the free amino acids methionine (Met), glutamate (Glu), histidine (His), phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), and isoleucine (Ile); trimethylamine (TMA) and dimethylamine (DMA), both biomarkers of degradation; nucleotides and derivatives; choline (Cho) and phosphorylcholine (P-cho); and lactate (Lac).

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Animals
  • Fish Products / analysis*
  • Italy
  • Lactic Acid / analysis
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
  • Metabolome*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Seafood / analysis
  • Smegmamorpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Lactic Acid