Next Article in Journal
NMR Precision Metabolomics: Dynamic Peak Sum Thresholding and Navigators for Highly Standardized and Reproducible Metabolite Profiling of Clinical Urine Samples
Next Article in Special Issue
Adenosine Triphosphate and Adenylate Energy Charge in Ready-to-Eat Food
Previous Article in Journal
Environmental and Metabolic Risk Factors Linked to Gallbladder Dysplasia
Previous Article in Special Issue
A Data-Driven Approach to Sugarcane Breeding Programs with Agronomic Characteristics and Amino Acid Constituent Profiling
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Explorative Study on Volatile Organic Compounds of Cinnamon Based on GC-IMS

1
National Engineering Research Center of Southwest Endangered Medicinal Resource Development, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Chinese Medicinal Materials Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Station, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning 530023, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Powder and Medicine Innovation in Hunan (Incubation), Science and Technology Innovation Center, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
3
Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning 530023, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050274
Submission received: 19 April 2024 / Revised: 29 April 2024 / Accepted: 6 May 2024 / Published: 9 May 2024

Abstract

:
Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices worldwide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are its main metabolic products. The misuse or mixing of cinnamon on the market is quite serious. This study used gas chromatography-ion migration spectroscopy (GC-IMS) technology to analyze the VOCs of cinnamon samples. The measurement results showed that 66 VOCs were detected in cinnamon, with terpenes being the main component accounting for 45.45%, followed by aldehydes accounting for 21.21%. The content of esters and aldehydes was higher in RG-01, RG-02, and RG-04; the content of alcohols was higher in RG-01; and the content of ketones was higher in RG-02. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and partial least squares regression analysis can be performed on the obtained data to clearly distinguish cinnamon. According to the VIP results of PLS-DA, 1-Hexanol, 2-heptanone, ethanol, and other substances are the main volatile substances that distinguish cinnamon. This study combined GC-IMS technology with chemometrics to accurately identify cinnamon samples, providing scientific guidance for the efficient utilization of cinnamon. At the same time, this study is of great significance for improving the relevant quality standards of spices and guiding the safe use of spices.

1. Introduction

Spices refer to a class of natural plant products with typical aromatic and spicy flavors, specifically seasonings made from dried plant seeds, buds, fruits, stems, leaves, roots, etc.—for example, pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. They can not only enhance the aroma of food but also have strong antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects [1,2] and can be used to reduce the risk of chronic diseases [3]. Spices, as a necessity of daily life, are widely used in cooking and the food industry.
Cinnamon is widely used as a spice for its fragrance and flavor in various traditional foods. It is widely used around the world. It is the dried stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Fam. Lauraceae.) or Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. As a traditional spice and traditional Chinese medicine, it has a wide range of applications in cooking and traditional Chinese medicine. In China, cinnamon is mainly used in treating impotence, frigidity, feelings of cold and pain in the loins and knees, dyspnea in deficiency of the kidney, dizziness, inflammation of the eyes, and sore throat due to yang deficiency, precordial and abdominal pain with cold sensation, vomiting and diarrhea in deficiency cold syndrome, neurosis with a feeling of gas rushing up through the chest to the throat from the lower abdomen, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea [4]. Modern pharmacological research shows that cinnamon has anti-cancer effects [5,6,7]; reduces blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance [8,9,10]; is antibacterial [11,12,13]; and has antioxidant [14,15], anti-inflammatory [16], anti-insomnia [17], and other pharmacological effects. Cinnamon contains volatile oils, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, polysaccharides, and other components; volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are its main functional components [18]. Ding et al. [19] used HPLC combined with PCA and PLS-DA to evaluate the quality of the collected cinnamon bark and leaf samples. The results showed that cinnamaldehyde was the most abundant marker component, followed closely by eugenol. Pages Rebull et al. [20] conducted a study using HPLC-UV combined chemometrics (PCA, SIMCA, and PLS-DA) to identify biomarker compounds of cinnamon, such as eugenol and salicylaldehyde.
Cinnamon is distributed in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and other countries. In China, the production areas are mainly concentrated in Guangxi and Guangdong provinces. The most famous cinnamons include Fangcheng Cinnamon (the Geographical Indication Certification Trademark of China), Luoding Cinnamon (the Geographical Indication Products of China), Saigon Cinnamon, and Ceylon Cinnamon. Due to different distribution regions, the corresponding ecological environment such as soil, water, temperature, and light are also different, resulting in differences in the external morphology, internal structure, and physiological and biochemical components of the product, which can lead to differences in efficacy. But genuine products and counterfeit products have similar characteristics in appearance, shape, color, and odor, which can easily cause confusion and misuse. Fake products are often mistaken for or intentionally replace genuine ones to reduce costs, and the constant occurrence of adulteration seriously affects the quality of cinnamon products. At present, the identification of cinnamon mainly adopts traditional morphological identification, physical and chemical identification, spectroscopy, chromatography, DNA barcodes, and other technologies. However, the first of these methods have strong subjectivity and are greatly affected by the environment, while the latter have problems such as complex operation, high costs, and sample pretreatment [21]. Therefore, developing accurate and rapid detection methods is of great significance for the efficient and safe use of cinnamon.
In recent years, gas chromatography-ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS) has shown unique advantages as a new analytical method for the detection and analysis of volatile organic compounds [22,23]. Through the high separation ability of gas chromatography and the high sensitivity of ion migration spectroscopy, it can achieve a rapid and accurate analysis of complex samples. Combining chemometrics can extract useful information from the obtained complex chemical data, which helps to more efficiently identify samples [24,25,26]. As volatile organic compounds are the main source of cinnamon aroma, analyzing them using GC-IMS combined with chemometrics can help to gain a deeper understanding of the aroma components of cinnamon and provide a scientific basis for its development and utilization. There are almost no studies on the identification of VOCs in cinnamon using GC-IMS combined with chemometrics, and this difference is often one of the key factors causing differences in the quality of foods.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

In this study, we collected four batches of cinnamon, which are Fangcheng Cinnamon (named RG-01), Luoding Cinnamon (named RG-02), Ceylon Cinnamon (named RG-03), and Saigon Cinnamon (named RG-04). Each sample is crushed into powder at a low temperature (−10 °C) and set aside for later use.

2.2. Analysis by GC-IMS

2.2.1. Instruments and Equipment

FlavorSpec® Gas Chromatograph-Ion Mobility Spectrometer from GAS (Dortmund, Germany) was used in this study.

2.2.2. Sample Preparation

Sample Preparation: The cinnamon samples were crushed to approximately 100 mesh to facilitate the weighing and release of VOCs.
Weighing: 0.5 g of the sample was weighed.
Sample in headspace vial: The weighed 0.5 g of the cinnamon sample was transferred into a headspace vial, trying to distribute the sample as evenly as possible at the bottom of the vial.
Warming treatment: The headspace bottle was placed in a thermostatic water bath and the samples were allowed to warm at 80 °C for 15 min to promote the release of volatile components from the cinnamon.
Measurements: 3 parallel measurements were performed for each sample.

2.2.3. Headspace Conditions

A 15 min incubation at 80 °C was followed by a non-shunt injection of 500 microliters, followed by rotating the vials at 500 revolutions per minute (rpm). It was 85 °C at the time of injection.

2.2.4. GC Conditions

MXT-WAX (15 m × 0.53 mm × 1.0 m, Restek Inc., Edmond, OK, USA) was used for GC. The oven temperature was 60 °C. The carrier gas was initially 2.00 mL/min of high-purity N2 (99.999%). The flow rate increased linearly from 10.00 mL/min to 10.00 mL/min within 8 min and then was maintained for 10 min. An injection temperature of 85 °C and a run time of 59 min were used for the chromatography.

2.2.5. IMS Conditions

Tritium (3H) acts as a source of ionization; a 53 mm drift tube was used; 500 V/cm electric field intensity; 45 °C drift tube temperature; N2 (99.999%) flow rate; 150 mL/min flow rate, and positive ionization mode.

2.3. Statistical Analysis

The calibration curves of the retention time and retention index were established, and then the retention index of the substance was calculated from the retention time of the target, and the qualitative analysis of the target was carried out using the built-in GC retention index (NIST 2020) database and the IMS migration time database of the VOCal software (from G.A.S., Dortmund, Germany, version 2.0.0). Plug-ins such as Reporter, Gallery Plot, and Dynamic PCA in VOCal data processing software (from G.A.S., Dortmund, Germany, version 2.0.0) were used to generate 3D spectra, 2D spectra, differential spectra, fingerprint spectra, and PCA plots of volatile components, respectively for comparison of VOCs between samples.
The PCA method is used for feature extraction and dimension reduction; it converts numerous variables into a small number of relevant variables, allowing a clearer understanding of categories, clusters, and outliers [27]. In PCA, the model is visualized, allowing it to be understandable and avoiding subjective judgment [28].
CA is a method of non-parametric data interpretation used in fingerprint analysis that groups samples. It displays complex data in a simple manner and is easy to use [29].
In order to observe differences between groups, a PCA-based discriminative investigation was conducted using PLS-DA in the supervised mode. PLS-DA is a statistical technique that combines PLS regression and discriminant analysis to identify differences between different sample groups and classify them in high-dimensional data. PLS-DA maximizes group differences according to previously defined classifications [30].
In addition, the predicted variable importance projection (VIP) > 1 is used as a standard to measure the influence intensity and explanatory ability of the expression pattern of the compound on the classification discrimination of each group of samples [31,32], thereby assisting in screening the main differences between samples.

3. Results

3.1. GC-IMS Analysis of VOCs in Four Cinnamon Samples

3.1.1. Comparison of VOCs in Four Batches of Cinnamon

Figure 1 shows the 3D spectra of VOCs in cinnamon generated using the Reporter plugin program in the GC-IMS instrument analysis software (from G.A.S., Dortmund, Germany, version 2.0.0). The x, y, and z axes in the graph represent the drift time, gas chromatography retention time, and peak intensity, respectively. Each peak represents a volatile component, and the height of the red protrusion represents the strength of the component signal. The higher the red protrusion, the stronger the signal, indicating a high component content. The lower the red protrusion, the weaker the signal, indicating a low component content. In Figure 1, it can be seen that there are certain differences in four batches of cinnamon.
We further analyzed the sample’s gas phase ion migration spectrum in detail by combining the two-dimensional top view and difference plot. Figure 2 shows a two-dimensional view of VOCs in four batches of cinnamon, with the horizontal axis representing the ion drift time and the vertical axis representing the retention time. The red vertical line represents the reaction ion peak. Each bright spot represents a volatile component on either side of the reaction ion peak. In order to determine the analyte, it must be quantified, and the color depth represents the volatile compound content. The higher the content of the component, the darker the color and the larger the bright spot. Red indicates a higher content of the corresponding component, and white indicates a lower content. It is also possible to visually compare the VOCs in the four batches of cinnamon in Figure 2.
As shown in Figure 3, the spectrum of the RG-01 sample is used as a reference, and the spectra of the other samples are subtracted from the reference to compare the differences between them. If the VOCs in the target sample and the reference sample are the same, the subtracted background is white, while red indicates a higher concentration of the substance in the target sample. At the same time, blue indicates a lower concentration of the substance in the target sample. We can clearly see the differences between the four batches of cinnamon through differential spectra. RG-03 has significantly less substances in the dotted black border than RG-01, and RG-01 has many red signal peaks, indicating that RG-03 has significantly more substances than RG-01.

3.1.2. Qualitative Analysis of VOCs in Four Batches of Cinnamon by GC-IMS

In order to qualitatively compare the relative differences of the VOCs in four cinnamon samples, the Vocal plugin was used to process the data and obtain the ion migration spectra of the four cinnamon samples, as shown in Figure 4. VOCs are represented by different points in the graph, and the color depth of these points represents their concentrations. The content is higher if the color is darker, and vice versa.
Comparing NIST 2020 and IMS migration time databases for the GC retention index, it was found that a total of 66 VOCs were detected in four batches of cinnamon, mainly including 30 terpenes, 14 aldehydes, 9 esters, 6 ketones, 6 alcohols, and 1 ether. The qualitative results are shown in Table 1.

3.1.3. GC-IMS Profile Analysis of VOCs in Four Batches of Cinnamon

The construction of VOC profile maps for different varieties of cinnamon can provide an effective means for the origin traceability and quality evaluation of cinnamon. To further compare the VOCs in the samples, a profile analysis was performed on all VOCs, as shown in Figure 5. Each row represents all the signal peaks selected from a sample, and each column represents all the signal peaks of the same volatile organic compound across samples. In each grid, the higher the content, the brighter the color. Through a comparative analysis of volatile substances in samples RG-01, RG-02, RG-03, and RG-04, the results showed that, as shown in the red box, methyl eugenol, citronellate acetate, and (E)-2-decenal had higher content in RG-01, RG-02, and RG-04. As shown in the green box, acetophenone and 3-ethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone have higher content in RG-04. As shown in the yellow box, 2,4-decadienal, 2-decenenal, linalool oxide, (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal, 3-methyl-1-butyl acetate, hexanal, butyl acetate γ-Terpenes, 3-carene α- Terpene, terpene-4-ol α- Terpineol, cinnamyl alcohol, ethyl 2-methylpropionate, valeraldehyde, butyl 2-methylbutyrate, hexanol, heptanal, and linalool have higher content in RG-03. As shown in the purple box, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2-heptanone, and (E)-2-hexenol have higher content in RG-02. As shown in the blue box, (E)-2-octenal, limonene, 2,3-butanediol, 2-hexenal, 1-terpen-4-ol β- Pinene α- Pinene, and 2-propanol have higher content in RG-01.

3.2. Chemometric Analysis

Chemometrics combines mathematics, statistics, computer science, and chemistry. The three chemometric methods (exploratory method and classification method) commonly used in GC-IMS data analysis are the exploratory method, represented by principal component analysis (PCA), and the classification method, represented by cluster analysis (CA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). These methods are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, agricultural products, food classification, medicine, etc.

3.2.1. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

The PCA of VOCs in four groups of cinnamon samples, RG-01, RG-02, RG-03, and RG-04, was performed using Origin pro 2023b software. The results are shown in Figure 6. The contribution rate of PC1 is 59.3%, and the contribution rate of PC2 is 21.1%, with a cumulative contribution rate of 80.4%. The small distance between Sample 1, Sample 2, and Sample 4 indicates that their differences are small. At the same time, Sample 3 has a clear distance from the other three cinnamon groups, indicating a significant difference between Sample 3 and the other three groups of cinnamon. Certain differences exist in the content of VOCs between the four batches of cinnamon.

3.2.2. Cluster Analysis (CA)

Using a heatmap, data differences between groups are intuitively represented by color depth changes. A total of 66 volatile component peaks from the four groups, RG-01, RG-02, RG-03, and RG-04, were imported into TBtools software (v2.026) for CA. The results are shown in Figure 7. For the four groups of cinnamon from different origins, the clustering characteristics of cinnamon from the same origin are obvious. The clustering characteristics of the second and fourth groups are obvious, and the difference between the third group and the other three groups is significant. The elements were as follows: 2-Undecental, 2,4-Decadienal, 3-carene D, 1-Hexanol D, Ethyl 2-methylpropanoate D, Ethyl 2-methylpropanoate M γ- Terpinene D, (+)-Limene M, heptanal D, Linalool oxide M α- Terpinene D, Cinnamyl alcohol, Butyl 2-methylbutanoate D, Linalool oxide D, 3-methyl-but-1-yl acetate D, and 3-methyl-but-1-yl acetate M γ-. The content of Terpinene D and Butyl acetate D in RG-03 is higher than that of the other three groups.

3.2.3. Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA)

SIMCA 14.1 software was used to import four groups of sample data: RG-01, RG-02, RG-03, and RG-04. The results are shown in Figure 8. The PLS-DA score chart shows that the PLS-DA model has good prediction ability (R2X = 0.975, R2Y = 0.999, Q2 = 0.997). The values of R2 and Q2 are close to 1, indicating that the fitting accuracy is good. RG-03 is distributed on the left side of the figure, while the other three groups of samples are all on the right side of the figure, indicating that the chemical composition of RG-03 is significantly different from other groups, which is consistent with the conclusion drawn from the PCA plot. Predicting variable importance projection VIP > 1 measures the impact of compounds on sample classification, which helps identify the main differences between samples. The higher the VIP value, the greater the effect on cinnamon. As shown in the Figure 9, 1-Hexanol M, 2-heptanone M, Ethanol M, 3-carene M, Benzaldehyde D, (E)-2-octenal D, (+)-Limonene P, acetophenone D, Geraniol M, β-pinene D, β-pinene P, 2-heptanone D, Linalol M, Pentanal, borneol, β-pinene M, (E)-2-octenal M, α-Pinene P, α-Pinene D, 3-ethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone, Hexanal D, 2-butanone-3-hydroxy, heptanal M, (E)-2-hexenol, Hexanal M, α-terpinene M, and Butyl 2-methylbutanoate M are the main differential index components. These compounds play an important role in distinguishing different species of cinnamon samples and are the main marker compounds. At the same time, in order to determine whether the model is overfit, we conducted 200 cross-validations to examine the R2 and Q2 values. In Figure 10, we can see that the slope of the straight line is large, indicating that the PLS-DA model does not overfit (R2 = 0.0784, Q2 = −0.496).

4. Discussion

In this study, we used GC-IMS to successfully analyze VOCs in cinnamon from different origins. A total of 66 VOCs were detected, including 30 terpenes, 14 aldehydes, 9 esters, and 6 ketones, as well as 6 kinds of alcohol and 1 type of ether. It can be seen that terpenes are the main components of VOCs in cinnamon, followed by aldehydes and esters. Among them, cinnamic aldehyde is an important contributor to the unique aroma and flavor of cinnamon, and it has very important pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial [33,34,35]. Through the 3D spectrum, 2D spectrum, and color difference spectrum obtained by GC-IMS technology, we can clearly and intuitively see obvious differences in the VOCs in cinnamon from different origins. In addition, according to the results of the volatile component fingerprint, β-pinene and α-pinene are relatively high in the RG-01 and RG-03 samples. There are obviously more high-content substances in the RG-03 sample than in other samples. Still, the three substances, eugenol methyl ester, citronellyl acetate, and (E)-2-decenal, have the lowest content in the RG-03 sample, while they are higher in the other samples.
To analyze the chemical information obtained, we used chemometrics. The PCA method is commonly used in model recognition to identify similar samples and is combined with CA and PLS-DA for feature-based classification of samples [36]. By analyzing the PCA results, PCA1 and PCA2 were 59.3% and 21.1%, respectively, with a cumulative contribution rate of 80.4%, indicating that the two principal components can better reflect the original data. The reflected information, the PCA results, confirmed that the differences between the RG-01, RG-02, and RG-04 samples are relatively small, while the RG-03 sample is far from the other three samples, and there are obvious differences between them. In addition, according to the results of heat map clustering and PLS-DA analysis, we can also clearly observe that RG-01, RG-02, and RG-04 samples are closer to the same category; this could be explained by the fact that the three cinnamon cultivation areas are not far apart. The RG-03 sample is obviously different from them, further verifying the previous conclusion. This may be closely related to the geographical environment in which they grow. RG-03 grows in sunny tropical regions, while other cinnamons mostly grow in subtropical regions. The VIP results show that volatile substances such as 1-Hexanol M, 2-heptanone M, and Ethanol M in the cinnamon samples have the greatest impact on the flavor of the cinnamon samples.
Cinnamon is an important spice in cooking and can provide a unique aroma. However, there are also some instances of inferior or adulterated cinnamon on the market, which may harm the quality and safety of the product. Therefore, accurately identifying cinnamon from different origins is one of the most important steps to ensuring product quality and safety. Currently, the quality evaluation methods for cinnamon mainly include HPLC, GC, NIR, and GC-MS technologies [37,38,39]. As a fast and non-destructive technology with higher sensitivity and resolution, GC-IMS can detect lower concentrations of VOCs and has broad application prospects in cinnamon quality control, authenticity identification, and aroma analysis. This study used this technology to measure the content of VOCs in cinnamon from different origins. It established a more convenient and effective method for identifying the spice cinnamon, enabling more efficient and safe utilization of cinnamon resources in food, spices, and medicine.

5. Conclusions

This study used GC-IMS technology combined with chemometrics to analyze and compare VOCs in various cinnamon samples. A total of 66 VOCs were detected, including 30 terpenes, 14 aldehydes, 9 esters, 6 alcohols, 6 ketones, and 1 ether. Terpenes account for 45.45%, while aldehydes account for 21.21%. Therefore, terpenes and aldehydes are the most abundant VOCs in cinnamon. The results of fingerprint analysis combined with PCA, CA, PLS-DA, and other data indicate that the ester and aldehyde contents in RG-01, RG-02, and RG-04 are relatively high; RG-01 has a higher alcohol content, RG-02 has a higher ketone content, and RG-03 has a higher ester content. The visualized data indicates that there will be certain differences in the VOCs in various cinnamon samples.
This study developed a simple and efficient GC-IMS method for the identification of VOCs in cinnamon. Compared with traditional identification methods, this method overcomes the problems of poor specificity and relatively low accuracy. A comprehensive and systematic analysis was conducted on the VOCs in cinnamon, revealing the types of aroma components and providing strong support for the efficient utilization of cinnamon. At the same time, it also provides a reference for the identification of other spices.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Y.P. and L.Q.; methodology, Y.P. and L.Q.; software, S.L. and Y.H.; validation, S.L. and Y.H.; formal analysis, D.H. (Danna Huang); investigation, D.H. (Danna Huang); resources, W.W.; data curation, Y.L.; writing—original draft preparation, Y.P. and L.Q.; writing—review and editing, L.C. and D.H. (Dan Huang); visualization, L.C.; supervision, D.H. (Dan Huang); project administration, D.H. (Dan Huang) and Y.P.; funding acquisition, L.C. and Y.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by Guangxi Science and Technology Base and Talent Special Project (Guike AD17292003), the Nanning Science & Technology Programmer (No. 20212131), the Research Project from Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants (No. 201802, No. 202304, No. 202103), and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Administration of traditional Chinese Medicine (No. GXZYA20220010).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy restrictions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

  1. Ulewicz-Magulska, B.; Wesolowski, M. Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal Herbs and Spices from Plants of the Lamiaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae Families: Chemometric Interpretation of the Data. Antioxidants 2023, 12, 2039. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Gupta, N.; Bhattacharya, S.; Urbanová, K.; Dutta, A.; Hazra, A.K.; Fernández-Cusimamani, E.; Leuner, O. Systematic analysis of antimicrobial activity, phytochemistry, and in silico molecular interaction of selected essential oils and their formulations from different Indian spices against foodborne bacteria. Heliyon 2023, 9, e22480. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Mackonochie, M.; Rodriguez-Mateos, A.; Mills, S.; Rolfe, V. A Scoping Review of the Clinical Evidence for the Health Benefits of Culinary Doses of Herbs and Spices for the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients 2023, 15, 4867. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  4. Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China: Vol I; China Medical Science and Technology Press: Beijing, China, 2020; pp. 142–143. [Google Scholar]
  5. Kwon, H.K.; Hwang, J.S.; So, J.S.; Lee, C.G.; Sahoo, A.; Ryu, J.H.; Jeon, W.K.; Ko, B.S.; Lee, S.H.; Park, Z.Y.; et al. Cinnamon extract induces tumor cell death through inhibition of NFkappaB and AP1. BMC Cancer 2010, 10, 392. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Palmioli, A.; Forcella, M.; Oldani, M.; Angotti, I.; Sacco, G.; Fusi, P.; Airoldi, C. Adjuvant Effect of Cinnamon Polyphenolic Components in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 16117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Sadeghi, S.; Davoodvandi, A.; Pourhanifeh, M.H.; Sharifi, N.; ArefNezhad, R.; Sahebnasagh, R.; Moghadam, S.A.; Sahebkar, A.; Mirzaei, H. Anti-cancer effects of cinnamon: Insights into its apoptosis effects. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 178, 131–140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Sharma, S.; Mandal, A.; Kant, R.; Jachak, S.; Jagzape, M. Is Cinnamon Efficacious for Glycaemic Control in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus? J. Pak. Med. Assoc. 2020, 11, 2065–2069. [Google Scholar]
  9. Kirkham, S.; Akilen, R.; Sharma, S.; Tsiami, A. The potential of cinnamon to reduce blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Diabetes Obes. Metab. 2009, 11, 1100–1113. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  10. Bandara, T.; Uluwaduge, I.; Jansz, E.R. Bioactivity of cinnamon with special emphasis on diabetes mellitus: A review. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 2012, 63, 380–386. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  11. Vasconcelos, N.G.; Croda, J.; Simionatto, S. Antibacterial mechanisms of cinnamon and its constituents: A review. Microb. Pathog. 2018, 120, 198–203. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Kowalska, J.; Tyburski, J.; Matysiak, K.; Jakubowska, M.; Łukaszyk, J.; Krzymińska, J. Cinnamon as a Useful Preventive Substance for the Care of Human and Plant Health. Molecules 2021, 26, 5299. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Brochot, A.; Guilbot, A.; Haddioui, L.; Roques, C. Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects of three essential oil blends. Microbiologyopen. 2017, 6, e00459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  14. Ferraz, M.C.; Procópio, F.R.; Figueiredo, F.G.; Munhoz Moya, A.M.T.; Cazarin, C.B.B.; Hubinger, M.D. Cinnamon and paprika oleoresin emulsions: A study of physicochemical stability and antioxidant synergism. Food Res. Int. 2021, 150, 110777. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  15. Mutlu, M.; Bingol, Z.; Uc, E.M.; Köksal, E.; Goren, A.C.; Alwasel, S.H.; Gulcin, İ. Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Leaf Oil Using LC-HR/MS, GC/MS, and GC-FID: Determination of Antiglaucoma, Antioxidant, Anticholinergic, and Antidiabetic Profiles. Life 2023, 13, 136. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  16. Vezzani, B.; Perrone, M.; Carinci, M.; Palumbo, L.; Tombolato, A.; Tombolato, D.; Daminato, C.; Gentili, V.; Rizzo, R.; Campo, G.; et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection as a model to study the effect of cinnamaldehyde as adjuvant therapy for viral pneumonia. J. Inflamm. 2023, 20, 40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  17. Hidayat, R.; Wulandari, P.; Reagan, M. The Potential of Cinnamon Extract (Cinnamomum burmanii) as Anti-insomnia Medication through Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Axis Improvement in Rats. Acta Med. Acad. 2022, 51, 79–84. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  18. Zhang, C.; Fan, L.; Fan, S.; Wang, J.; Luo, T.; Tang, Y.; Chen, Z.; Yu, L. Cinnamomum cassia Presl: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology. Molecules 2019, 24, 3473. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Ding, Y.; Wu, E.Q.; Liang, C.; Chen, J.; Tran, M.N.; Hong, C.H.; Jang, Y.; Park, K.L.; Bae, K.; Kim, Y.H.; et al. Discrimination of cinnamon bark and cinnamon twig samples sourced from various countries using HPLC-based fingerprint analysis. Food Chem. 2011, 127, 755–760. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  20. Pages-Rebull, J.; Pérez-Ràfols, C.; Serrano, N.; del Valle, M.; Díaz-Cruz, J.M. Classification and authentication of spices and aromatic herbs by means of HPLC-UV and chemometrics. Food Biosci. 2023, 52, 102401. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Feltes, G.; Ballen, S.C.; Steffens, J.; Paroul, N.; Steffens, C. Differentiating True and False Cinnamon: Exploring Multiple Approaches for Discrimination. Micromachines 2023, 14, 1819. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Liu, B.; Yang, Y.; Ren, L.; Su, Z.; Bian, X.; Fan, J.; Wang, Y.; Han, B.; Zhang, N. HS-GC-IMS and PCA to Characterize the Volatile Flavor Compounds in Three Sweet Cherry Cultivars and Their Wines in China. Molecules 2022, 27, 9056. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Li, C.; Wan, H.; Wu, X.; Yin, J.; Zhu, L.; Chen, H.; Song, X.; Han, L.; Yang, W.; Yu, H.; et al. Discrimination and Characterization of the Volatile Organic Compounds in Schizonepetae Spica from Six Regions of China Using HS-GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC-MS. Molecules 2022, 27, 4393. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  24. Wang, C.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, X.; Tian, X.; Chen, K.; Zeng, X. Characterization of Volatile Compounds by HS-GC-IMS and Chemical Composition Analysis of Colored Highland Barley Roasted at Different Temperatures. Foods 2022, 11, 2921. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Xu, L.; Wang, J.; Tian, A.; Wang, S.; Zhao, K.; Zhang, R.; Wu, X.; Liu, Y.; Liu, X.; Chen, K.; et al. Characteristic volatiles fingerprints in olive vegetable stored at different conditions by HS-GC-IMS. Food Chem. X. 2023, 18, 100707. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Duan, H.; Zhou, Y.; Wang, D.; Yan, W. Differences in Volatile Organic Compounds in Rhizoma gastrodiae (Tian Ma) of Different Origins Determined by HS-GC-IMS. Molecules 2023, 28, 4883. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  27. Wang, N.; Li, Z.Y.; Zheng, X.L.; Li, Q.; Yang, X.; Xu, H. Quality Assessment of Kumu Injection, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation, Using HPLC Combined with Chemometric Methods and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Alkaloids by Single Marker. Molecules 2018, 23, 856. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  28. Qin, Y.D.; Fang, F.M.; Wang, R.B.; Zhou, J.J.; Li, L.H. Differentiation between wild and artificial cultivated Stephaniae tetrandrae radix using chromatographic and flow-injection mass spectrometric fingerprints with the aid of principal component analysis. Food Sci. Nutr. 2020, 8, 4223–4231. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Wu, L.; Liang, W.; Chen, W.; Li, S.; Cui, Y.; Qi, Q.; Zhang, L. Screening and Analysis of the Marker Components in Ganoderma lucidum by HPLC and HPLC-MSn with the Aid of Chemometrics. Molecules 2017, 22, 584. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  30. Xu, L.; Jiao, Y.; Cui, W.; Wang, B.; Guo, D.; Xue, F.; Mu, X.; Li, H.; Lin, Y.; Lin, H. Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription in Naolingsu Capsule Based on Combinative Method of Fingerprint, Quantitative Determination, and Chemometrics. J. Anal. Methods Chem. 2022, 2022, 1429074. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Tong, G.Y.; Wu, H.L.; Wang, T.; Chang, Y.Y.; Chen, Y.; Yang, J.; Fu, H.Y.; Yang, X.L.; Li, X.F.; Yu, R.Q. Analysis of active compounds and geographical origin discrimination of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. by using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection fingerprints combined with chemometrics. J. Chromatogr. A 2022, 1674, 463121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Mu, Q.; Zhang, Y.; Cui, Y.; Chai, X.; Liu, J.; Li, Y.; Yu, H.; Wang, Y. Study on Closely Related Citrus CMMs based on Chemometrics and Prediction of Components-Targets-Diseases Network by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Evid Based Complement Altern. Med. 2022, 2022, 1106353. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Ghardashpour, M.; Saeedi, M.; Negarandeh, R.; Enderami, S.E.; Ghorbani, A.; Lotfizadeh, A.; Jafari, A.; Arezoumandi, A.; Hassannia, H.; Molania, T. Anti-inflammatory and tissue repair effect of cinnamaldehyde and nano cinnamaldehyde on gingival fibroblasts and macrophages. BMC Oral Health 2023, 23, 1014. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. Liu, R.; Wu, Z.Q.; He, M.; Que, C.T.; Yang, J.; Zeng, N. Effects of Volatile Oil from Cinnamomi Ramulus and Cinnamaldehyde on Cytokines and T Cell Subsets in H1N1-infected Mice. Chin. J. Exp. Tradit. Med. Formulae 2015, 21, 139–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Yu, H.R.; Huang, X.Y.; Zhou, L.P.; Wang, Y. Incorporation of cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, and eugenol into zein films for active food packaging: Enhanced mechanical properties, antimicrobial activity, and controlled release. J. Food Sci. Technol. 2023, 60, 2846–2857. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  36. Zhu, H.; Zhu, D.; Sun, J. Application of GC-IMS coupled with chemometric analysis for the classification and authentication of geographical indication agricultural products and food. Front. Nutr. 2023, 10, 1247695. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Pages-Rebull, J.; Sagristà, G.; Pérez-Ràfols, C.; Serrano, N.; Díaz-Cruz, J.M. Application of HPLC-UV combined with chemometrics for the detection and quantification of ‘true cinnamon’ adulteration. Talanta 2024, 271, 125676. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Rehman, N.U.; Albaqami, F.F.; Salkini, M.A.A.; Farahat, N.M.; Alharbi, H.H.; Almuqrin, S.M.; Abdel-Kader, M.S.; Sherif, A.E. Comparative GC Analysis, Bronchodilator Effect and the Detailed Mechanism of Their Main Component—Cinnamaldehyde of Three Cinnamon Species. Separations 2023, 10, 198. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Castro, R.C.; Ribeiro, D.S.; Santos, J.L.; Páscoa, R.N. Authentication/discrimination, identification and quantification of cinnamon adulterants using NIR spectroscopy and different chemometric tools: A tutorial to deal with counterfeit samples. Food Control 2023, 147, 109619. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Figure 1. The 3D spectrum of the VOCs of four groups of cinnamon.
Figure 1. The 3D spectrum of the VOCs of four groups of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g001
Figure 2. The 2D spectrum of the VOCs of four groups of cinnamon.
Figure 2. The 2D spectrum of the VOCs of four groups of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g002
Figure 3. Analysis of the spectral differences between RG-01 and the other three groups of cinnamon.
Figure 3. Analysis of the spectral differences between RG-01 and the other three groups of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g003
Figure 4. Characteristic peak position plot of VOCs of cinnamon.
Figure 4. Characteristic peak position plot of VOCs of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g004
Figure 5. Gallery plot of VOCs selected via GC-IMS.
Figure 5. Gallery plot of VOCs selected via GC-IMS.
Metabolites 14 00274 g005
Figure 6. Plot of the PCA scores of VOCs in four species of cinnamon.
Figure 6. Plot of the PCA scores of VOCs in four species of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g006
Figure 7. Cluster heat map of VOCs in four species of cinnamon.
Figure 7. Cluster heat map of VOCs in four species of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g007
Figure 8. PLS−DA analysis of VOCs in four groups of cinnamon.
Figure 8. PLS−DA analysis of VOCs in four groups of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g008
Figure 9. VIP diagram of the PLS-DA model.
Figure 9. VIP diagram of the PLS-DA model.
Metabolites 14 00274 g009
Figure 10. Permutation test results of VOCs in four groups of cinnamon.
Figure 10. Permutation test results of VOCs in four groups of cinnamon.
Metabolites 14 00274 g010
Table 1. Results of component analysis of VOCs in cinnamon.
Table 1. Results of component analysis of VOCs in cinnamon.
NoCompoundsCASMolecular FormulaMWRIRt/sDt/ms
11-Terpinen-4-ol DC562743C10H18O154.31180.1777.5041.70722
21-Terpinen-4-ol MC562743C10H18O154.31182783.3151.23744
3Geraniol DC106241C10H18O154.31210.3871.5541.72796
4Geraniol MC106241C10H18O154.31232.7948.2211.22722
5α-Terpineol DC98555C10H18O154.31164.3732.6871.78782
6α-Terpineol MC98555C10H18O154.31167.5741.3661.29145
7Terpinen-4-olC562743C10H18O154.31171751.4921.21992
8Acetophenone DC98862C8H8O120.21072517.1531.57321
9Acetophenone MC98862C8H8O120.21072517.1531.18488
10Benzaldehyde DC100527C7H6O106.1970.9356.5871.4681
11Benzaldehyde MC100527C7H6O106.1970.9356.5871.14984
12(E)-2-Octenal DC2548870C8H14O126.21062.3498.6621.81392
13(E)-2-Octenal MC2548870C8H14O126.21061.6497.2831.33401
14β-Pinene PC127913C10H16136.2988.7378.7911.72682
15β-Pinene PC127913C10H16136.2988.3378.3471.65397
16β-Pinene DC127913C10H16136.2985.9375.2351.29899
17β-Pinene MC127913C10H16136.2983.8372.5681.22
18α-Pinene MC80568C10H16136.2943.3324.5581.21897
19α-Pinene DC80568C10H16136.2942.5323.6691.29489
20α-Pinene PC80568C10H16136.2943.3324.5581.67552
21α-Pinene PC80568C10H16136.2940.5321.4471.73708
222-HexenalC505577C6H10O98.1851.7242.321.18101
23(E)-2-HexenolC928950C6H12O100.2853243.2091.52265
24Cinnamyl AlcoholC104541C9H10O134.21323.31334.3311.09418
252,3-ButanediolC513859C4H10O290.1783.1198.2951.36304
262-Butanone-3-HydroxyC513860C4H8O288.1709.4159.6561.33619
27Hexanal DC66251C6H12O100.2798.5207.4461.56833
28Hexanal MC66251C6H12O100.2796.8206.4291.26513
29Ethyl 2-Methylpropanoate DC97621C6H12O2116.2744.3176.9421.56675
30Ethyl 2-Methylpropanoate MC97621C6H12O2116.2754182.0261.19406
31Linalol MC78706C10H18O154.31103.6582.6141.21977
32Linalol DC78706C10H18O154.31104.4584.5041.76789
33γ-Terpinene DC99854C10H16136.21062.4498.831.70206
34γ-Terpinene MC99854C10H16136.21064.4502.611.2238
35Methyl EugenolC93152C11H14O2178.21373.91615.0441.46374
36Citronellyl AcetateC150845C12H22O2198.31352.91491.9551.46092
373-Ethyl-2-Hydroxy-2-CyclopeNtenone C21835018C7H10O2126.21129.1641.5521.20911
38BorneolC507700C10H18O154.31155707.4751.21716
39(+)-Limonene DC138863C10H16136.21036.3452.1341.29163
40(+)-Limonene MC138863C10H16136.21030.9443.0021.2188
41(+)-Limonene PC138863C10H16136.21033.3446.9151.65583
42(E,E)-2,4-HexadienalC142836C6H8O96.1903.8283.7391.46049
43Ethanol DC64175C2H6O46.1509.1106.671.13303
44Ethanol MC64175C2H6O46.1468.198.641.04239
45PentanalC110623C5H10O86.1730.3169.8061.41087
462-UndecenalC2463776C11H20O168.31309.91268.7161.48683
47(E)-2-EcenalC3913813C10H18O154.31266.71077.8381.46558
482,4-DecadienalC2363884C10H16O152.21290.11177.2531.43466
49Butyl 2-Methylbutanoate DC15706737C9H18O2158.21046.8470.2981.89602
50Butyl 2-Methylbutanoate MC15706737C9H18O2158.21046.8470.2981.3633
51Linalool Oxide DC60047178C10H18O2170.31077.7528.431.81683
52Linalool Oxide MC60047178C10H18O2170.31078.7530.4051.26283
533-Carene DC13466789C10H16136.21012.7413.5431.67851
543-Carene MC13466789C10H16136.21016.5419.4631.29223
55α-Terpinene DC99865C10H16136.21022428.3421.72448
56α-Terpinene MC99865C10H16136.21022.5429.1771.21953
572-Heptanone DC110430C7H14O114.2892.4272.9361.63499
582-Heptanone MC110430C7H14O114.2893273.4361.25997
59Butyl Acetate DC123864C6H12O2116.2804.2210.9241.62396
60Butyl Acetate MC123864C6H12O2116.2806.2212.1741.23712
611-Hexanol DC111273C6H14O102.2869.4255.1831.63814
621-Hexanol MC111273C6H14O102.2867.1253.4321.32772
63Heptanal DC111717C7H14O114.2905.8285.6881.70038
64Heptanal MC111717C7H14O114.2906.3286.1891.33166
653-Methyl-but-1-yl acetate DC123922C7H14O2130.2876.7260.6841.74214
663-Methyl-but-1-yl acetate MC123922C7H14O2130.2877.4261.1841.29936
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Pan, Y.; Qiao, L.; Liu, S.; He, Y.; Huang, D.; Wu, W.; Liu, Y.; Chen, L.; Huang, D. Explorative Study on Volatile Organic Compounds of Cinnamon Based on GC-IMS. Metabolites 2024, 14, 274. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050274

AMA Style

Pan Y, Qiao L, Liu S, He Y, Huang D, Wu W, Liu Y, Chen L, Huang D. Explorative Study on Volatile Organic Compounds of Cinnamon Based on GC-IMS. Metabolites. 2024; 14(5):274. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050274

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pan, Yu, Liya Qiao, Shanshuo Liu, Ye He, Danna Huang, Wuwei Wu, Yingying Liu, Lu Chen, and Dan Huang. 2024. "Explorative Study on Volatile Organic Compounds of Cinnamon Based on GC-IMS" Metabolites 14, no. 5: 274. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050274

APA Style

Pan, Y., Qiao, L., Liu, S., He, Y., Huang, D., Wu, W., Liu, Y., Chen, L., & Huang, D. (2024). Explorative Study on Volatile Organic Compounds of Cinnamon Based on GC-IMS. Metabolites, 14(5), 274. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050274

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop