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Borage, calendula, cosmos, Johnny Jump up, and pansy flowers: volatiles, bioactive compounds, and sensory perception

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Abstract

The aim of the present work was to study the main volatile and bioactive compounds (monomeric anthocyanins, hydrolysable tannins, total flavonoids, and total reducing capacity) of five edible flowers: borage (Borage officinalis), calendula (Calendula arvensis), cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), Johnny Jump up (Viola tricolor), and pansies (Viola × wittrockiana), together with their sensory attributes. The sensory analysis (10 panelists) indicated different floral, fruity, and herbal odors and taste. From a total of 117 volatile compounds (SPME–GC–MS), esters were most abundant in borage, sesquiterpenes in calendula, and terpenes in cosmos, Johnny Jump up, and pansies. Some bioactive and volatile compounds influence the sensory perception. For example, the highest content of total monomeric anthocyanins (cosmos and pansies) was associated with the highest scores of colors intensity, while the floral and green fragrances detected in borage may be due to the presence of ethyl octanoate and 1-hexanol. Therefore, the presence of some volatiles and bioactive compounds affects the sensory perception of the flowers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for the financial support provided by the research grant [SFRH/BD/95853/2013] and FCT/MEC for the financial support to QOPNA research Unit [FCT UID/QUI/00062/2013], through national funds and when applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement, and to REQUIMTE through the Project [PEst/UID/QUI/50006/2013]. The authors are also grateful to FCT (Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO)/School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus de Stª Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal

    Luana Fernandes, José A. Pereira, Ricardo Malheiro, Nuno Rodrigues & Elsa Ramalhosa

  2. LAQV@REQUIMTE/Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    Luana Fernandes & Susana Casal

  3. Organic Chemistry, Natural Products and Agrifood (QOPNA), Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Luana Fernandes & Jorge A. Saraiva

Authors
  1. Luana Fernandes
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  2. Susana Casal
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  3. José A. Pereira
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  4. Ricardo Malheiro
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  5. Nuno Rodrigues
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  6. Jorge A. Saraiva
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  7. Elsa Ramalhosa
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Correspondence to Susana Casal or Elsa Ramalhosa.

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Fernandes, L., Casal, S., Pereira, J.A. et al. Borage, calendula, cosmos, Johnny Jump up, and pansy flowers: volatiles, bioactive compounds, and sensory perception. Eur Food Res Technol 245, 593–606 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-018-3183-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-018-3183-4

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