The potential of e-nose aroma profiling for identifying the geographical origin of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) roots

Mariateresa Russo; Demetrio Serra; Francesca Suraci; Rosa Di Sanzo; Salvatore Fuda; Santo Postorino

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.05.142

The potential of e-nose aroma profiling for identifying the geographical origin of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) roots

Food Chem. 2014 Dec 15:165:467-74. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.05.142. Epub 2014 Jun 4.

Authors

Mariateresa Russo¹, Demetrio Serra², Francesca Suraci², Rosa Di Sanzo³, Salvatore Fuda³, Santo Postorino²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agriculture, Laboratory of Food Chemistry, University of Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito, 89100 Reggio Calabria, Italy; Fondazione Mediterranea Terina, Research Laboratory "Quality and Food Safety and New Technologies" - Qua.Sic.A.Tec. MIUR Acc n. 28/2010, Area Industriale, 88046 Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy. Electronic address: mariateresa.russo@unirc.it.
² Fondazione Mediterranea Terina, Research Laboratory "Quality and Food Safety and New Technologies" - Qua.Sic.A.Tec. MIUR Acc n. 28/2010, Area Industriale, 88046 Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy.
³ Department of Agriculture, Laboratory of Food Chemistry, University of Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito, 89100 Reggio Calabria, Italy.

PMID: 25038700
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.05.142

Abstract

Licorice roots cultivated commercially in distinct geographical areas such as China, Iran, Italy (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily) and Turkey were classified using an artificial olfactive system (e-nose) based on metal oxide semiconductor sensors (MOS). The resultant instrumental data were processed using a multivariate statistical analysis method in order to classify the raw samples according to its origin. The e-nose odourprintings were obtained by a canonical discriminant analysis carried out with the aim of relating the specific data-sets corresponding to whole licorice roots aroma with the e-nose reference dataset. E-nose results were compared to those obtained by SPME/GC-MS. The HS-SPME/GC/MS analysis was used as a control system to check for the actual existence of differences in the chemical composition of sample headspace. These results imply the possibility to use an electronic nose as a tool for a quick, effective and non-destructive authentication of licorice roots.

Keywords: Artificial olfactory system; E-nose; Glycyrrhiza glabra L.; HS-SPME/GC–MS; Metal oxide semiconductor.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Electronic Nose*
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
Glycyrrhiza / chemistry*
Plant Roots / chemistry*
Smell