Capsaicinoids in Chili Habanero by Flow Injection with Coulometric Array Detection

Abstract

This study presents a sensitive electroanalytical method for the determination of capsaicinoids in chili extracts using flow injection with coulometric array detector. Flow injection method was developed based on the coulometric signal of capsaicinoids obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with coulometric detector (HPLC‐ECD). Capsaicinoids concentration in 18 chili samples from Yucatán México cultivated in different types of soils was quantified using UHPLC‐DAD and HPLC‐ECD and expressed in Scoville units. The plants were cultivated in a greenhouse on three types of limestone soils, namely, red, black and brown. Chili peppers were harvested in two stages of maturity: immature (green), and mature (orange). HPLC‐ECD method showed ten times higher sensitivity compared to the UHPLC‐DAD. Capsaicinoid content in 18 chili samples was measured by flow injection method. The best correlation with the Scoville units was obtained by the analysis of the current signal of the sensor poised at +450 mV (R2=94). ANOVA analysis showed that the soil type and the harvest date were significant for the capsaicinoid content. Chili plants cultivated in red soil had higher capsaicinoid content. In addition, the capsaicinoid content was increasing at later harvest dates. In summary, the suggested flow injection method with coulometric array detector decreased the time of analysis from 15 min to 30 s. Therefore it can be successfully applied for the routine capsaicinoid analysis in chili.

Influence of Soil Composition on the Profile and Content of Polyphenols in Habanero Peppers (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

“…The work previously carried out by Morozova et al [44], showed that the type of soil had a significant effect on the content of capsaicinoids, reporting that habanero peppers grown in red soil had a higher concentration of capsaicinoids. This information and the results obtained in the present work demonstrate that the physicochemical composition of the soil affects the production of one type of metabolites over others.…”

Phytochemical Characterization of By-Products of Habanero Pepper Grown in Two Different Types of Soils from Yucatán, Mexico

“…The calibration curve was prepared in the range of 0.005 to 0.08 mg mL −1 . The total capsaicinoids were reported as the sum of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin; Morozova et al described this method [ 21 ].…”

“…Studies have reported that the fruits have a high content of vitamin C and E and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and capsaicinoids. The fruits exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities, mainly due to their capsaicin content [ 20 , 21 ]. However, there are few scientific studies on the nutritional and bioactive potential of its by-products.…”

Electrochemical Methods to Evaluate the Antioxidant Activity and Capacity of Foods: A Review

“…Several studies also focus on direct application of coulometric array detector for analysis of food antioxidants in flow injection mode. Specifically, it has been used for analysis of chlorpromazine [189], antioxidants in lettuce [190] and chili [191] extracts. Elimination of the separation step allows to identify the antioxidant capacity of large number sample in a single run within the shortest time possible.…”