Authentic Aroma and Compound-Specific Isotope Ratios (δ13C, δ2H) Profiles of Vanilla Pods (V. planifolia and V. tahitensis)

Long Chen; Purna Kumar Khatri; Mauro Paolini; Tiziana Nardin; Alberto Roncone; Roberto Larcher; Luca Ziller; Luana Bontempo

doi:10.3390/molecules30040825

Authentic Aroma and Compound-Specific Isotope Ratios (δ¹³C, δ²H) Profiles of Vanilla Pods (V. planifolia and V. tahitensis)

Long Chen, Purna Kumar Khatri, Mauro Paolini, Tiziana Nardin, Alberto Roncone, Roberto Larcher, Luca Ziller, Luana Bontempo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Agroecology - Crop Health

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Stable isotope ratio analysis of carbon (δ¹³C) and hydrogen (δ²H) in vanillin has become a valuable tool for differentiating natural vanilla from synthetic or biosynthetic alternatives and for tracing its geographical origins. However, increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques necessitate ongoing refinement of analytical methods to ensure accurate detection. This study advanced the field by investigating minor volatile organic compounds as potential biomarkers for identifying botanical and geographical origins of vanilla products. Vanilla pods from the two main vanilla species, V. planifolia and V. tahitensis, were investigated using GC-MS/MS to analyze their aromatic profile and GC-C/Py-IRMS to determine compound-specific isotope ratios, providing, for the first time, detailed and authentic isotopic and aromatic profiles. Additionally, the potential natural presence of ethyl vanillin and its corresponding glucoside precursors—molecules commonly used as synthetic vanilla-scented fragrance agents in various foods and industrial products—was explored using UHPLC-HRMS. These findings contribute to robust methods for verifying vanilla authenticity, addressing flavor complexity and isotopic composition, and enhancing the detection of adulteration in vanilla-flavored products.

Original language	English
Article number	825
Journal	Molecules
Volume	30
Issue	4
ISSN	1420-3049
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040825
Publication status	Published - Feb 2025

Keywords

ethyl vanillin
GC-C/Py-IRMS
GC-MS/MS
vanillin
volatile compounds

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title = "Authentic Aroma and Compound-Specific Isotope Ratios (δ13C, δ2H) Profiles of Vanilla Pods (V. planifolia and V. tahitensis)",

abstract = "Stable isotope ratio analysis of carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δ2H) in vanillin has become a valuable tool for differentiating natural vanilla from synthetic or biosynthetic alternatives and for tracing its geographical origins. However, increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques necessitate ongoing refinement of analytical methods to ensure accurate detection. This study advanced the field by investigating minor volatile organic compounds as potential biomarkers for identifying botanical and geographical origins of vanilla products. Vanilla pods from the two main vanilla species, V. planifolia and V. tahitensis, were investigated using GC-MS/MS to analyze their aromatic profile and GC-C/Py-IRMS to determine compound-specific isotope ratios, providing, for the first time, detailed and authentic isotopic and aromatic profiles. Additionally, the potential natural presence of ethyl vanillin and its corresponding glucoside precursors—molecules commonly used as synthetic vanilla-scented fragrance agents in various foods and industrial products—was explored using UHPLC-HRMS. These findings contribute to robust methods for verifying vanilla authenticity, addressing flavor complexity and isotopic composition, and enhancing the detection of adulteration in vanilla-flavored products.",

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author = "Long Chen and Khatri, {Purna Kumar} and Mauro Paolini and Tiziana Nardin and Alberto Roncone and Roberto Larcher and Luca Ziller and Luana Bontempo",

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Authentic Aroma and Compound-Specific Isotope Ratios (δ¹³C, δ²H) Profiles of Vanilla Pods (V. planifolia and V. tahitensis). / Chen, Long; Khatri, Purna Kumar; Paolini, Mauro et al.
In: Molecules, Vol. 30, No. 4, 825, 02.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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T1 - Authentic Aroma and Compound-Specific Isotope Ratios (δ13C, δ2H) Profiles of Vanilla Pods (V. planifolia and V. tahitensis)

AU - Chen, Long

AU - Khatri, Purna Kumar

AU - Paolini, Mauro

AU - Nardin, Tiziana

AU - Roncone, Alberto

AU - Larcher, Roberto

AU - Ziller, Luca

AU - Bontempo, Luana

PY - 2025/2

Y1 - 2025/2

N2 - Stable isotope ratio analysis of carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δ2H) in vanillin has become a valuable tool for differentiating natural vanilla from synthetic or biosynthetic alternatives and for tracing its geographical origins. However, increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques necessitate ongoing refinement of analytical methods to ensure accurate detection. This study advanced the field by investigating minor volatile organic compounds as potential biomarkers for identifying botanical and geographical origins of vanilla products. Vanilla pods from the two main vanilla species, V. planifolia and V. tahitensis, were investigated using GC-MS/MS to analyze their aromatic profile and GC-C/Py-IRMS to determine compound-specific isotope ratios, providing, for the first time, detailed and authentic isotopic and aromatic profiles. Additionally, the potential natural presence of ethyl vanillin and its corresponding glucoside precursors—molecules commonly used as synthetic vanilla-scented fragrance agents in various foods and industrial products—was explored using UHPLC-HRMS. These findings contribute to robust methods for verifying vanilla authenticity, addressing flavor complexity and isotopic composition, and enhancing the detection of adulteration in vanilla-flavored products.

AB - Stable isotope ratio analysis of carbon (δ13C) and hydrogen (δ2H) in vanillin has become a valuable tool for differentiating natural vanilla from synthetic or biosynthetic alternatives and for tracing its geographical origins. However, increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques necessitate ongoing refinement of analytical methods to ensure accurate detection. This study advanced the field by investigating minor volatile organic compounds as potential biomarkers for identifying botanical and geographical origins of vanilla products. Vanilla pods from the two main vanilla species, V. planifolia and V. tahitensis, were investigated using GC-MS/MS to analyze their aromatic profile and GC-C/Py-IRMS to determine compound-specific isotope ratios, providing, for the first time, detailed and authentic isotopic and aromatic profiles. Additionally, the potential natural presence of ethyl vanillin and its corresponding glucoside precursors—molecules commonly used as synthetic vanilla-scented fragrance agents in various foods and industrial products—was explored using UHPLC-HRMS. These findings contribute to robust methods for verifying vanilla authenticity, addressing flavor complexity and isotopic composition, and enhancing the detection of adulteration in vanilla-flavored products.

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Authentic Aroma and Compound-Specific Isotope Ratios (δ¹³C, δ²H) Profiles of Vanilla Pods (V. planifolia and V. tahitensis)

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