Chemometrics as a tool to discriminate geographical origin of Cyperus esculentus L. based on chemical composition

Abstract

a b s t r a c tIn the present study the chemical composition of Cyperus esculentus L. (tiger nut) from four distinct geographical origin (Spain, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa) was assessed to observe the possible effect of the cultivation site in the fatty acids profile, sterols composition, and squalene and ␣-tocopherol content.It was verified that the individual fatty acids as well as the different fatty acids fractions were severely affected by the geographical origin. Tiger nut oils were predominantly monounsaturated with lower prevalence of saturated fatty acids, and with capability to provide appreciable amounts of essential fatty acids. The sterols fraction was affected as well, but in lower extent. ␤-sitosterol was the most abundant sterol found, reaching nearly 60% of the total sterols found in tiger nut oils, with significant differences among geographical origins.The fatty acids data, together with the sterols and ␣-tocopherol and squalene data were capable to separate tiger nut samples according to their chemical composition and geographical origin when a principal component analysis was applied. The fatty acids profile could be applied as a possible geographical authenticity marker.

Nutritional and Microbiological Quality of Tiger Nut Tubers (Cyperus esculentus), Derived Plant-Based and Lactic Fermented Beverages

“…Tiger nut naturally contains a number of sterol components that are of a different composition than the components found in olive oil. β-sitosterol was found as the main compound (≈49-60 mg/100g), followed by stigmasterol, campesterol, α and β-tocopherols [39].…”

Characterization and comparison of tiger nuts ( Cyperus esculentus L.) from different geographical origin

“…The major fatty acids in tiger nut oil are oleic, palmitic and linoleic (Coş kuner et al, 2002;Hunter, 2001;Kim et al, 2007;Linssen et al, 1988). Both site and variety have a significant influence on the different oil fractions, since it has been verified that tiger nut fatty acid profile could be used as an alternative geographical authenticity marker (Ejoh and Ndjouenkeu, 2006;Lopéz-Cortés et al, 2013). Furthermore, a moderate content of phytosterols (∼0.5-0.6 g/g of oil) was also reported in tiger nuts by Yeboah et al (2012), which improves the value of tiger nut oil as a food source.…”

The Fatty Acid Profile Analysis of Cyperus laxus Used for Phytoremediation of Soils from Aged Oil Spill-Impacted Sites Revealed That This Is a C18:3 Plant Species

“…These results for corm and leaf from C . laxus plants grown in uncontaminated soil contrasts with reports of the fatty acid composition of tubers [ 35 , 38 , 39 ] and leaves [ 33 ] of C . esculentus , which contain high amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids with a considerably lower prevalence of saturated ones: the saturated/unsaturated rates in the tubers ranged from 0.12 to 0.71, with palmitic acid as the main saturated acid (15%) and oleic acid as the predominant unsaturated acid (72%), and from 0.38 to 0.52 in the leaf, with palmitic acid as the main saturated acid (30%) again, but now with linolenic acid as the predominant unsaturated acid (50%).…”