Application of Alternative Technologies for Elimination of Artificial Colorings in Alcoholic Beverages Produced by Citrus medica and Potential Impact on Human Health

Kolona-Dimitra Prompona, Panagiotis Kandylis, Argiris Tsakiris, Maria Kanellaki, Yiannis Kourkoutas

Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, GR-68100, Greece.
Applied Microbiology and Molecular Biotechnology Research Group, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Department of Enology & Beverage Technology, Faculty of Food Technology and Nutrition, Technological Educational Institute (T.E.I.) of Athens, Agiou Spyridona Street, 12210 Egaleo, Athens, Greece.
Food Biotechnology Group, Section of Analytical Environmental and Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, GR-26500 Patras, Greece.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2012.37127                

Abstract

In the present study elimination of chemical colorings in the alcoholic beverages produced by extraction of citron (Citrus medica) fruits and leaves as an alternative to the distillation method, which is currently used in industrial practice and requires addition of synthetic additives, was examined. Additionally, the volatile compounds of citron alcoholic beverages produced by both methods in association with potential antioxidant and anticancer properties were investigated. The results showed that no addition of artificial pigments was required in the novel citron beverages, as color intensity was similar to the commercial products. The most important compounds identified by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis were esters, alcohols, carbonyl compounds, acetals and terpenes. Although all products contained significant amounts of terpenes, which have been proposed as efficient antioxidant and anticancer agents, the highest concentration was determined in the alcoholic beverage produced by 4-fold extraction of citron leaves. Principal component analysis indicated that the production method affected significantly the volatile composition of the products. Finally, the potential of novel functional alcoholic beverages in promotion of human health is highlighted and assessed.

Keywords

Citrus Medica; Volatiles; SPME GC/MS; Antioxidant; Anticancer; Functional Beverages

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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