Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1189138 Food Chemistry 2008 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

Cell wall polysaccharides were investigated for their suitability as markers for quality and authenticity control of fruit products. For this purpose, the alcohol-insoluble residue (AIR) from several cultivars of apricots and peaches of different harvest seasons, provenances, and stages of ripeness was extracted and subsequently fractionated into acid- and EDTA/alkali-soluble pectins, hemicellulose, and cellulose. Each fraction was analysed for its neutral sugar composition by gas chromatography. In addition, analyses were also carried out on several cultivars of pumpkins because of their potential for use in fraudulent admixtures. Within the respective fruit species, characteristic neutral sugar profiles of the AIR and its fractions were observed, which were found to be independent of the cultivar, harvest season, and provenance. The fruit specific saccharide composition may be used for the differentiation of fruit products devoid of carbohydrate-based hydrocolloids. Furthermore, the isolated hemicellulose may also allow the detection of admixtures of non-specified fruit in complex fruit products, such as jams, spreads, and fruit preparations.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
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