Department of Mathematical and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: mzoccali@unime.it.
Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: dgiuffrida@unime.it.
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: fsalafia@unime.it.
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: frigano@unime.it.
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98166 Messina, Italy; Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; BeSep s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; Unit of Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: pdugo@unime.it.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: casale@difar.unige.it.
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98166 Messina, Italy; Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; BeSep s.r.l., c/o Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; Unit of Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: lmondello@unime.it.
The present study report on the application of an on line supercritical fluid extraction-supercritical fluid chromatography-triple quadrupole/mass spectrometry methodology to the first apocarotenoids profiling of seventeen different chilli peppers cultivars belonging to Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum chinense species. A total of 19 free apocarotenoids and 8 apocarotenoids fatty acid esters were identified; β-Apo-8'-carotenal and Apo-8'-zeaxanthinal were also quantified and the β-Apo-8'-carotenal occurrence was in the percentage ranges relative to β-carotene of 0.03-3.87%. PCA was performed as a multivariate display method on the quantified carotenoids and apocarotenoids, in order to visualize the data structure. Moreover, different ε-apoluteinals and 4-oxo-apo-β-carotenals were detected in Capsicum species also for the first time and, to the best of authors knowledge, in any food matrix.
