Targeted metabolite profile of food bioactive compounds by Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry: The “FancyTiles” approach

•Orbitrap High Resolution Mass Spectrometry is a powerful tool for metabolomics.•The targeted “FancyTile” approach allowed to construct an educated schema.•Fast extraction, chromatography and high mass accuracy were the analytical tools.•Metabolic profile of olive oil, artichoke and olive mill wastewaters were reported.

In this paper a new targeted metabolic profile approach using Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry was described. For each food matrix various classes of bioactive compounds and some specific metabolites of interest were selected on the basis of the existing knowledge creating an easy-to-read fingerprinting named “FancyTiles”. The procedure resulted in a plot of semi-quantitative data allowed to highlight for each food the main metabolites related to the biological or sensorial attributes within an educated schema. Results showed that the FancyTile procedure is a useful tool for research programs aiming at improving the health potential of food and ingredients.In this paper the FancyTile was described and it was successfully applied to verify the differences in the metabolic profile. Olive oils from different cultivars, waste mill waters from olive grown in different location and artichokes cultivated with different agronomical practices were used as case study.