A rapid method for characterization of nutmeg will help producers substantiate quality claims and ensure consumer confidence. Until recently, nutmeg characterization has relied primarily on gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Alternatively, proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) could provide a rapid technique to characterise nutmeg by volatile profiling. The hypothesis is that this approach can be used to determine authenticity of herbs and spices. Samples (47) were analysed for their headspace volatile compositions using PTR-MS. The majority (38 out of 47) of the samples consisted of ground nutmeg collected from different sources across Europe. in addition, whole nutmegs and a nutmeg oil were collected. The eight whole nutmegs were assessed in their whole and laboratory milled forms. The sample set included two spent nutmeg samples and three mixtures of milled spent and whole nutmeg at 20, 50, and 90 % spent nutmeg. All measurements were performed in triplicate. Analytical data were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. The majority of the samples (ground, spent and whole nutmeg) clustered together. A Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) model was built using 0, 20, 50, 90 and 100 % spent ground nutmeg samples, which was applied to predict the % of spent nutmeg in the remaining samples of unknown composition. In addition, ion masses that distinguished samples could be determined. The results demonstrate that analysing certain spice samples gives an indication of its natural and process variation, to be monitored subsequently. Moreover, these results demonstrate that a number of samples may contain spent nutmeg and/or be enriched with (an unknown amount of) nutmeg oil. Profiling of volatile compounds by PTR-MS allowed rapid discrimination of different qualities of nutmeg.

Authenticity of nutmeg: Characterization by PTR-MS

247th National Meeting (2014)

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