Bioactive molecules as authenticity markers of Italian Chinotto (Citrus × myrtifolia) fruits and beverages

• Bioactive characterization of Citrus × myrtifolia fruits.
• Active compounds as authenticity markers of “Chinotto” soft drinks.
• Innovative analytical approach for genuineness control of commercial products.
• Development, validation and application of an original SPE-HPLC-F method.

Chinotto (Citrus × myrtifolia) is a uncommon fruit belonging to the Citrus genus, mainly cultivated in small areas of the Italian territory, where the main use concerns the eponymous drink, marketed with the name of “Chinotto”. The lack of information about this fruit highlights the usefulness of nutraceutical compound characterization, as well as the need to identify genuineness markers in derived commercial products.An analytical strategy based on SPE-HPLC-F was developed to identify and quantify different bioactive compounds in Chinotto (Citrus × myrtifolia) fruits and commercial beverages. The method was fully validated and successfully applied to the analysis of nutraceutical compounds in Chinotto fruits of Italian origin and in some Chinotto-based beverages, granting reliable and consistent data. The obtained results provided preliminary key information about the bioactive profiling of Citrus × myrtifolia and proved the suitability of the selected compounds as authenticity markers of derived commercial soft drinks.

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