@conference{
author = "Vasić, Dušan and Pećinar, Ilinka and Mićanović, Nenad and Luiz Fernando Cappa, de Oliveira and Popović-Đorđević, Jelena",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Nowadays, Raman spectroscopy is widely utilized for analyzing various plant materials which provides data about the
chemical composition and structural characteristics (“fingerprint”). It is also used for semi-quantitative and quantitative
analyses [1,2]. This paper reports the evaluation of phytochemical composition of fruits that commonly grow in Serbia using
Raman microspectroscopy, and the differentiation between the samples according to their chemical composition by apply ing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the obtained Raman spectra. Twelve fruits belonging to the families Rosaceae
(red raspberry - Rubus idaeus L, blackberry -Rubus ceasius L., strawberry - Fragaria vesca L., rosehip - Rosa canina L.,
plum - Prunus domestica L., blackthorn - Prunus spinosa L., sour cherry - Prunus cerasus L., apple - Malus pumila Miller,
common hawthorn - Crategus monogyna Jacq., medlar - Crataegus germanica L.), Grossulariaceae (red currant - Ribes
rubra L.) and Ericaceae (blueberry - Vaccinium myrtillus L.) were studied. Fruits were selected with respect to their signifi cance in every-day diet and use in food industry. For fruits, Raman scattering was excited by wavelength of 785 nm using
XploRA Raman spectrometer. PCA was performed using PAST software [3].
Food processing is essential to preserve and extend the shelf life of food products. Most of the studied fruits are intended
for fresh consumption, whereas all of them can be processed. Apples, cherries and plums are processed, by juicing, mak ing syrups, fermentation or canning [4]. Berries could be used in products like fruit pulp, jams, juices, and nectars [5]. The
blackthorn fruits are mostly used in jellies, syrups, vinegar, and conserves as well as for liquor making. Rosehip is used
in the making of traditional probiotic drinks, soups, various beverages, whereas the fresh or dried fruits of hawthorn are
used to make preserves, teas, and food supplements [6]. Medlar fruits are used to make jams, marmalades, jelly, candy,
sauces, and wines [7].
The differences between the fruit samples related to the composition and structural diversity of the detected compounds
were observed in the spectra, which confirmed the complexity of the studied fruits. The obtained spectra included char acteristic bands that may be associated to the most important compounds found in fruits, carbohydrates, carotenoids and
phenolic compounds [1,2]. The band characteristic for the (C=C) structural feature of phenolics (around 1600 cm-1) was
medium intensity in the Raman spectra of some berries (blackberry, strawberry, red currant), sour cherry and medlar,
whereas a very week intensity band was observed in the raspberry and apple spectra. The band associated to (C=C) of
flavonoids was weak and medium intensity in the spectra of hawthorn and blueberry, respectively. The most abundant
macronutrients in the majority of the studied fruits are carbohydrates, and the bands related to this class of compounds
appeared with different intensity in the 400-1460 cm-1 region. The carotenoids “fingerprint” was dominant in the rosehip
and hawthorn spectra. The score plot of the first and second PCs described 66.18% of the data variance. It can be seen
that the data along the PC1 axis can be divided into eight classes of objects: cherry, plum, thorn, blueberry, blackberry and
apple differed from other fruit samples in carbohydrate content (according to higher intensity loadings at 393 and 1066
cm-1), while hawthorn, rosehip, currant, strawberry and raspberry differed from the previously mentioned fruits in carotene
content (loadings at 998, 1150 and 1516 cm-1). PC2 described mainly the similarities in carotenoid content between haw thorn, rosehip, sour cherry and plum, suggesting a similar carotenoid profile of these fruits. The obtained results confirmed
the differences in the chemical profile of the studied fruits. Raman spectroscopy as a non-destructive, simple, rapid, low cost and eco-friendly method combined with PCA, could be used as a valuable tool for providing an insight into chemical
profiles of the most consumed Serbian fruits.",
title = "Raman spectroscopy as a tool for chemical characterisation of 12 Serbian fruits",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_agrospace_6814"
}
