Comparison of Polyacetylene Content in Organically and Conventionally Grown Carrots Using a Fast Ultrasonic Liquid Extraction Method

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 58; no. 13; pp. 7673 - 7679
• Main Authors: Søltoft, Malene, Eriksen, Morten Rosbjørn, Träger, Anne Wibe Brændholt, Nielsen, John, Laursen, Kristian Holst, Husted, Søren, Halekoh, Ulrich, Knuthsen, Pia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 14.07.2010
• Subjects: Agriculture; Bioactive Constituents; Biological and medical sciences; carrots; Chemical Fractionation - instrumentation; Chemical Fractionation - methods; Daucus carota - chemistry; equipment performance; extraction; fast ultrasonic liquid extraction method; food analysis; food composition; Food engineering; Food industries; Food, Organic - analysis; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; organic foods; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Roots - chemistry; polyacetylenes; Polyacetylenes - analysis; Polyacetylenes - isolation & purification; rapid methods; ultrasonic treatment; Ultrasonics; Carrots (Daucus carota); conventional and organic growth systems; method development and validation; HPLC−UV and MS; polyacetylenes; ultrasonic liquid processor (ULP); Production system; Validation; Carrot; Vegetables; Processor; Daucus carota; Growth; HPLC chromatography; Conventional agriculture; Liquid; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Development; Spermatophyta; Extraction; HPLC-UV and MS; Umbelliferae; Ultrasonic method
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf101921v

A rapid and sensitive analytical method for quantification of polyacetylenes in carrot roots was developed. The traditional extraction method (stirring) was compared to a new ultrasonic liquid processor (ULP)-based methodology using high-performance liquid chromatography−ultraviolet (HPLC−UV) and mass spectrometry (MS) for identification and quantification of three polyacetylenes. ULP was superior because a significant reduction in extraction time and improved extraction efficiencies were obtained. After optimization, the ULP method showed good selectivity, precision [relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.3−3.6%], and recovery (93% of falcarindiol) of the polyacetylenes. The applicability of the method was documented by comparative analyses of carrots grown organically or conventionally in a 2 year field trial study. The average concentrations of falcarindiol, falcarindiol-3-acetate, and falcarinol in year 1 were 222, 30, and 94 μg of falcarindiol equiv/g of dry weight, respectively, and 3−15% lower in year 2. The concentrations were not significantly influenced by the growth system, but a significant year−year variation was observed for falcarindiol-3-acetate.