Volatiles of rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.) stalks were isolated by means of vacuum headspace method (VHS) and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The VHS extracts possessed a “green” odor reminiscent of freshly peeled rhubarb stalks. The spectrum of compounds was dominated (>65 %) by compounds with C6-skeletons. In addition to unsaturated C6-aldehydes ((Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal) and the corresponding alcohols ((E)-2-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenol), C6-acids ((E)-2- and (E)-3-hexenoic acid), which are less common in plant systems, were also detected. Aroma extract dilution analysis and gas chromatography-olfactometry were applied to characterize aroma-active constituents. The determination of odor activity values revealed the sensory importance of the C6-compounds to the aroma of uncooked rhubarb stalks. Investigations of the influence of enzyme-catalyzed reactions demonstrated that the initial spectrum of C6-components formed after disrupting the cell matrix is changed rapidly due to subsequent reactions. Isomerizations and reductions lead to quantitative changes resulting in different sensory contributions of C6-compounds to the aroma of sliced rhubarb stalks and to the aroma of rhubarb stalks “aged” by enzyme-catalyzed reactions, respectively. Methyl-branched compounds constitute another important class of rhubarb stalk volatiles. In addition to 2-methyl-branched compounds (2-methylbutanol and 2-methylbutyric acid), the less usual 4-methyl-branched compounds (4-methylhexanol and 4-methylhexanoic acid) were identified. The enantiomeric compositions of these chiral constituents were determined via multidimensional gas chromatography using heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-ethyl)-b-cyclodextrin as chiral stationary phase. For all methyl-branched compounds enantiomeric ratios in favor of the (R)-enantiomers were observed. The isolation procedure applied had no significant impact on the enantiomeric ratios. The sensory evaluation of 4-methylhexanol and 4-methylhexanoic acid enantiomers via GC/O revealed differences in odor qualities between the enantiomers. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) were applied as additional techniques to isolate volatile constituents from rhubarb juice. The LLE extracts also possessed a “green” odor; however, they exhibited a more pungent character than the VHS extracts. In the extracts obtained by SDE additional cooked notes were detectable. The proportions of the major compound classes (C6-components, methyl-branched alcohols and acids) were in agreement to those observed in VHS extracts. However, LLE extracts contained higher amounts of acetic acid and (E)-2-hexenoic acid. The application of SDE resulted in the formation of compounds indicative of thermal treatment (2-furaldehyde, pyrrole, linalool oxide). The conditions of LLE and SDE led to different preferences of enzyme-catalyzed/chemical isomerisations and reductions. In consequence, the spectra of C6-compounds were dependent on the applied method. After cooking a rhubarb-water homogenate (15 min, reflux), a new component was isolated by means of LLE, which was postulated on the basis of mass spectrometric data as 5-hydroxyfurfural. Fresh rhubarb stalks and industrially produced rhubarb concentrates differed significantly in their spectra of volatile constituents. The C6-components dominating in uncooked rhubarb stalks play only minor roles in the extracts obtained from concentrates, which possessed pungent, cooked and caramel-like odor reminiscent of plum jam. 2-Methylbutanol, 2-methylpropanol and the corresponding acids were identified as representatives of methyl-branched compounds. In addition to acetic acid, typical compounds formed as consequence of thermal treatment of plant material in the course of the concentration process were present. Besides the preponderant furanes (5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde and 2-furaldehyde), other heterocyclic compounds such as g-pyrones (maltol, 5-hydroxymaltol and 5-hydroxy-(5,6)-dihydromaltol) and 2-formylpyrrole were detected as typical Maillard products. In commercial rhubarb flavorings composed on the basis of nature-identical compounds 1-phenylethyl acetate and 1-phenylethanol, which had not been identified in rhubarb stalks, were the most prominent constituents.
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Volatiles of rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.) stalks were isolated by means of vacuum headspace method (VHS) and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The VHS extracts possessed a “green” odor reminiscent of freshly peeled rhubarb stalks. The spectrum of compounds was dominated (>65 %) by compounds with C6-skeletons. In addition to unsaturated C6-aldehydes ((Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal) and the corresponding alcohols ((E)-2-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenol), C6-acids ((E)-2- and (E)-3-...
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