Comparative analysis of minor bioactive constituents (CoQ10, tocopherols and phenolic compounds) in Arbequina extra virgin olive oils from Brazil and Spain

•Minor bioactive constituents in Arbequina EVOO from Brazil and Spain were analyzed.•High concentrations of CoQ10 were observed in all samples, ranging 48-85 mg/L.•Climatic and geographic factors influenced the oil minor fraction composition.•Positive relationships with altitude and negative with rainfalls were observed.•Phenolic compounds had the major weight in the classification of oils.

There is currently an emerging production of olive oil in Brazil but it is still poorly characterized. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of minor bioactive constituents (CoQ10, tocopherols and phenolic compounds) in extra virgin olive oil from different regions of Brazil and Spain, of Arbequina cultivar. Significant variations (P < 0.05) in the concentration of the compounds analyzed were observed among oils from the different growing areas, not only between Spanish and Brazilian samples but also within zones of the same country. All the oils analyzed showed a high content of CoQ10, which ranged from 48 to 85 mg/L. The α − tocopherol was the major isomer quantified and three main groups of phenolic compounds were identified: flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin), phenolic acids (naringenin, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid) and phenolic alcohols (hydroxytyrosol). Climatic and geographic factors of the production zones greatly influenced the minor fraction composition; positive relationships between altitude and the level of CoQ10, tocopherols and phenolic compounds of the oils were observed, whereas a negative correlation with rainfalls was found. Chemometric analyses demonstrated that oils were differentiated by the chemical composition and origin area and that polyphenols (particularly hydroxytyrosol) held the major weight in the oil classification.

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