Characterization of nutrients, polyphenols and volatile components of the ancient apple cultivar ‘Mela Rosa Dei Monti Sibillini’ from Marche region, central Italy

Abstract

In the present work, we reported for the first time a comprehensive study on the phytonutrients, that is, natural compounds able to provide benefits to health, found in an ancient apple variety cultivated in orchards of the Sibillini Mountains, central Italy, known as Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini. This fruit has recently been promoted by authorities and local institutions as a typical food of the Marche Region. For the purpose, analysis of its nutrients, phenolics, triterpenes and volatile components as well as a morpho-anatomical study was carried out in order to give an added value for its consumption and promotion at regional and national level. ICP–MS, HPLC–MSⁿ and GC–MS analyses were useful techniques for giving a typical fingerprint to this apple, consisting in a high content of K and B, quercetin derivatives as the main phenolic compounds and carboxylic esters, aldehydes, alcohols and (E,E)-α-farnesene as the main key odorants.

Keywords:

• Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini
• phenolic compounds
• volatile components
• HPLC-DAD–MSⁿ
• SPME–GC–MS
• histochemistry

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Bacino Imbrifero Montano del Tronto and its President, Mr. Luigi Contisciani, for financial support, and Mr. Antonio Del Duca, along with all farmers reported in Table 1 for providing the apple samples.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.