Fish oils are the primary dietary source of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but these compounds are prone to oxidation, and commercial fish oil supplements sometimes contain less PUFA than claimed. These supplements are predominantly sold in softgel capsules. In this work, we show that Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectra of fish oils (n = 5) and ω-3 PUFA concentrates (n = 6) can be acquired directly through intact softgel (gelatin) capsules. These spectra could be used to rapidly distinguish supplements containing ethyl esters from those containing triacylglyceride oils. Raman spectroscopy calibrated with partial least-squares regression against traditional fatty acid methyl ester analyses by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry could be used to rapidly and nondestructively quantitate PUFA and other fatty acid classes directly though capsules. We also show that FT-Raman spectroscopy can noninvasively detect oxidation with high sensitivity. Oils with peroxide values of as low as 10 mequiv kg, which are on the cusp of falling outside of specification, could be readily distinguished from oils that were within specification (7 mequiv kg).

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Four trimethylated acylphloroglucinols (5-8) have been isolated from ma̅nuka (Leptospermum scoparium) foliage. Apart from myrigalone A (8), which has previously been isolated from European bog myrtle (Myrica gale), these compounds have not been characterized before. The nortriketones are structurally similar to the bioactive tetramethylated β-triketones from ma̅nuka, but have one less ring methyl group. Two oxidized trimethylated compounds, 9 and 10, were also isolated, but these are likely isolation artifacts. When evaluated for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, myrigalone A (8) was slightly less potent (MIC 64 μg/mL) than the corresponding tetramethylated compound, grandiflorone (4) (MIC 16-32 μg/mL). Unlike their tetramethylated analogues, the nortriketones were inactive against the herbicide target enzyme p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. The Raman spectra of leaf oil glands in different ma̅nuka varieties can be used to distinguish plants that contain nortriketones from those that accumulate triketones.

Rapid quantitative near-infrared Fourier transform Raman analyses of the key phytonutrients in carrots, polyacetylenes and carotenoids, are reported here for the first time. Solvent extracts of 31 carrot lines were analyzed for these phytonutrients by conventional methods, polyacetylenes by GC-FID and carotenoids by visible spectrophotometry. Carotenoid concentrations were 0-5586 μg g(-1) dry weight (DW). Polyacetylene concentrations were 74-4846 μg g(-1) DW, highest in wild carrots. The polyacetylenes were falcarinol, 6-1237 μg g(-1) DW; falcarindiol, 42-3475 μg g(-1) DW; and falcarindiol 3-acetate, 27-649 μg g(-1) DW. Strong Raman bands for carotenoids gave good correlation to results by visible spectrophotometry. A chemometric model capable of quantitating carotenoids from Raman data was developed. A classification model for rapidly distinguishing carrots with high and low polyacetylene (limit of detection = 1400 μg g(-1)) concentrations based on Raman spectral intensity in the region of 2250 cm(-1) was produced.

The absolute concentration of phospholipids (PL) (μmol g−1, wet tissue) in five marine tissues was determined using quantitative phosphorous nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P NMR). Hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) roe was identified as a “high‐PL” seafood, containing 15.97 ± 4.72 μmol g−1 (wet tissue) of these compounds. This was 2–4× higher than the concentration of PL in monkfish (Lophius spp.) fillets (4.26 ± 1.52), arrow squid (Nototodarus sloanii) mantle (8.95 ± 0.89), Greenshell™ mussel (Perna canaliculus) (7.04 ± 0.87), or hoki liver (6.03 ± 0.76). The amount of PL extracted from these tissues was dependent on the extraction method used, with the Folch (1957) method consistently extracting more oil (and more PL) from all five tissues than the Bligh and Dyer (1959) and Jensen (2003) methods. The individual PL profiles of each tissue are also reported.