Planta Med 2019; 85(03): 185-194
DOI: 10.1055/a-0782-0548
Natural Product Chemistry and Analytical Studies
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Piper nigrum Oil – Determination of Selected Terpenes for Quality Evaluation

Mei Wang
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Amar G. Chittiboyina
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Jon F. Parcher
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Zulfiqar Ali
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Paul Ford
2   Technical Innovation Center, McCormick and Company, Inc., Hunt Valley, MD, USA
,
Jianping Zhao
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Bharathi Avula
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Yan-Hong Wang
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
,
Ikhlas A. Khan
1   National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
3   Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 16 June 2018
revised 23 October 2018

accepted 30 October 2018

Publication Date:
15 November 2018 (online)

Abstract

The growing demand and commercial value of black pepper (Piper nigrum) has resulted in considerable interest in developing suitable and cost-effective methods for chemical characterization and quality evaluation purposes. In the current study, an extensive set of oil samples (n = 23) that were extracted by steam distillation from black pepper seeds was investigated to compare the chemical profiles of samples originating from nine major producing countries, as well as to identify potential chemical markers for quality evaluation. The twenty-two most abundant volatile compounds, mainly terpenes, in these oils were determined by conventional GC/MS analysis. Principal component analysis with this set of data revealed distinct clusters for samples that originated from China and Malaysia. Relatively low concentrations of sabinene (< 0.2%) and high concentrations of 3-carene (10.9 – 21.1%) were observed in these samples, respectively, compared to oil samples from other countries. The enantiomeric distributions of key terpene markers, viz., β-pinene, sabinene, limonene, and terpinen-4-ol, were determined by chiral GC/MS analysis. Interestingly, for these four monoterpenes, levo-isomers were found to be predominant, emphasizing the highly conserved enzymatic processes occurring in P. nigrum. Moreover, consistent enantiomeric ratios ((−) isomer/(+) isomer) of 92.2 ± 3.0% for β-pinene, 94.8 ± 2.8% for sabinene, 60.7 ± 1.1% for limonene, and 78.3 ± 1.3% for terpinen-4-ol were observed, independent of geographical location. These results demonstrate the potential of using stereospecific compositions as chiral signatures for establishing the authenticity and quality of black pepper oil.

 
  • References

  • 1 Zachariah TJ, Parthasarathy VA. Black Pepper. In: Parthasarathy VA, Chempakam B, Zachariah TJ. eds. Chemistry of Spices. New York: Oxford University Press; 2008: 21-40
  • 2 Pepper crop report. Available at: https://www.nedspice.com/upload/docs/170601_Nedspice_-_ESA_Pepper_Crop_Report_vFinal.pdf Accessed August 20, 2018
  • 3 Butt MS, Pasha I, Sultan MT, Randhawa MA, Saeed F, Ahmed W. Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2013; 53: 875-886
  • 4 Jeena K, Liju VB, Umadevi NP, Kuttan R. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of black pepper essential oil (Piper nigrum Linn). J Essent Oil Bear Plants 2014; 17: 1-12
  • 5 Ravindran PN, Kallupurackal JA. Black Pepper. In: Peter K. ed. Handbook of Herbs and Spices. New York: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.; 2004: 62-110
  • 6 Jelen HH, Gracka A. Analysis of black pepper volatiles by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography: A comparison of terpenes profiles with hydrodistillation. J Chromatogr A 2015; 1418: 200-209
  • 7 Sgorbini B, Bicchi C, Cagliero C, Cordero C, Liberto E, Rubiolo P. Herbs and spices: characterization and quantitation of biologically-active markers for routine quality control by multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with separative or non-separative analysis. J Chromatogr A 2015; 1376: 9-17
  • 8 Bagheri H, Abdul Manap MYB, Solati Z. Response surface methodology applied to supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of Piper nigrum L. essential oil. LWT-Food Sci Technol 2014; 57: 149-155
  • 9 Fan LS, Muhamad R, Omar D, Rahmani M. Insecticidal properties of Piper nigrum fruit extracts and essential oils against Spodoptera litura . Int J Agric Biol 2011; 13: 517-522
  • 10 Jagella T, Grosch W. Flavour and off-flavour compounds of black and white pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Part 1. Evaluation of potent odorants of black pepper by dilution and concentration techniques. Eur Food Res Technol 1999; 209: 16-21
  • 11 Jagella T, Grosch W. Flavour and off-flavour compounds of black and white pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Part 2. Odour activity values of desirable and undesirable odorants of black pepper. Eur Food Res Technol 1999; 209: 22-26
  • 12 Liu L, Song G, Hu Y. GC-MS analysis of the essential oils of Piper nigrum L. and Piper longum L. Chromatographia 2007; 66: 785-790
  • 13 Orav A, Stulova I, Kailas T, Mueuerisepp M. Effect of storage on the essential oil composition of Piper nigrum L. Fruits of different ripening states. J Agric Food Chem 2004; 52: 2582-2586
  • 14 Menon AN, Padmakumari KP, Jayalekshmy A. Essential oil composition of four major cultivars of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) III. J Essent Oil Res 2003; 15: 155-157
  • 15 Larkov O, Zaks A, Bar E, Lewinsohn E, Dudai N, Mayer AM, Ravid U. Enantioselective monoterpene alcohol acetylation in Origanum, Mentha and Salvia species. Phytochemistry 2008; 69: 2565-2571
  • 16 Werkhoff P, Brennecke S, Bretschneider W, Guentert M, Hopp R, Surburg H. Chirospecific analysis in essential oil, fragrance, and flavor research. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 1993; 196: 307-328
  • 17 Wong YF, Davies NW, Chin ST, Larkman T, Marriott PJ. Enantiomeric distribution of selected terpenes for authenticity assessment of Australian Melaleuca alternifolia oil. Ind Crops Prod 2015; 67: 475-483
  • 18 Wang M, Zhao J, Avula B, Wang YH, Chittiboyina AG, Parcher JF, Khan IA. Quality evaluation of terpinen-4-ol-type Australian tea tree oils and commercial products: an integrated approach using conventional and chiral GC/MS combined with chemometrics. J Agric Food Chem 2015; 63: 2674-2682
  • 19 Kreis P, Dietrich A, Mosandl A. Chiral compounds of essential oils. Part 18: on the authenticity assessment of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Pharmazie 1994; 49: 761-765
  • 20 Spanik I, Pazitna A, Siska P, Szolcsanyi P. The determination of botanical origin of honeys based on enantiomer distribution of chiral volatile organic compounds. Food Chem 2014; 158: 497-503
  • 21 Hener U, Kreis P, Mosandl A. Chiral compounds of essential oils. Part 4. Enantiomeric distribution of α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene in essential oils and extracts. Part 2. Oils, perfumes and cosmetics. Flavour Fragr J 1990; 5: 201-204
  • 22 König WA, Krueger A, Icheln D, Runge T. Enantiomeric composition of the chiral constituents in essential oils. Part 1: Monoterpene hydrocarbons. J High Resolut Chromatogr 1992; 15: 184-189
  • 23 International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3061: 2008 Oil of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/41617.html Accessed June 13, 2018
  • 24 Curl CL, Fenwick GR. On the determination of papaya seed adulteration of black pepper. Food Chem 1983; 12: 241-247
  • 25 Bhalla K, Punekar BD. Incidence and state of adulteration of commonly consumed spices in Bombay city. Indian J Nutr Diet 1975; 12: 216-222
  • 26 Tremlova B. Evidence of spice black pepper adulteration. Czech J Food Sci 2001; 19: 235-239
  • 27 Guo DA. Quality marker concept inspires the quality research of traditional Chinese medicines. Chin Hearbal Med 2017; 9: 1-2
  • 28 Yang W, Zhang Y, Wu W, Guo D, Huang L, Liu C. Approaches to establish Q-markers for the quality standards of traditional Chinese medicines. Acta Pharm Sin B 2017; 7: 439-446
  • 29 International Organization for Standardization. ISO 4730: 2017 Oil of Melaleuca, terpinen-4-ol type (Tea Tree oil). Available at: https://www.iso.org/standard/69082.html Accessed June 13, 2018
  • 30 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/%23data/QC/visualize Accessed June 13, 2018
  • 31 Jagella T, Grosch W. Flavour and off-flavour compounds of black and white pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Part 3. Desirable and undesirable odorants of white pepper. Eur Food Res Technol 1999; 209: 27-31
  • 32 Davies NW, Larkman T, Marriott PJ, Khan IA. Determination of enantiomeric distribution of terpenes for quality assessment of Australian tea tree oil. J Agric Food Chem 2016; 64: 4817-4819
  • 33 Croteau R, Satterwhite DM. Biosynthesis of monoterpenes. Stereochemical implications of acyclic and monocyclic olefin formation by (+)- and (−)-pinene cyclases from sage. J Biol Chem 1989; 264: 15309-15315
  • 34 Croteau R, Satterwhite DM, Cane DE, Chang CC. Biosynthesis of monoterpenes. Enantioselectivity in the enzymatic cyclization of (+)- and (−)-linalyl pyrophosphate to (+)- and (−)-pinene and (+)- and (−)-camphene. J Biol Chem 1988; 263: 10063-10071