Rapid Assessment of Metabolomic Fingerprinting of Recycled Sunflower By-Products via DART-HRMS

Molecules. 2024 Aug 29;29(17):4092. doi: 10.3390/molecules29174092.

Abstract

To comply with a more circular and environmentally friendly European common agricultural policy, while also valorising sunflower by-products, an ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) was tested to optimise ethanol-wash solutes (EWS). Furthermore, the capabilities of DART-HRMS as a rapid and cost-effective tool for determining the biochemical changes after valorisation of these defatted sunflower EWS were investigated. Three batches of EWS were doubly processed into optimised EWS (OEWS) samples, which were analysed via DART-HRMS. Then, the metabolic profiles were submitted to a univariate analysis followed by a partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) allowing the identification of the 15 most informative ions. The assessment of the metabolomic fingerprinting characterising EWS and OEWS resulted in an accurate and well-defined spatial clusterization based on the retrieved pool of informative ions. The outcomes highlighted a significantly higher relative abundance of phenolipid hydroxycinnamoyl-glyceric acid and a lower incidence of free fatty acids and diglycerides due to the ultrasound treatment. These resulting biochemical changes might turn OEWS into a natural antioxidant supplement useful for controlling lipid oxidation and to prolong the shelf-life of foods and feeds. A standardised processing leading to a selective concentration of the desirable bioactive compounds is also advisable.

Keywords: DART-HRMS; PLS-DA; ambient ionisation; ethanol-wash solutes; polyphenols; sunflower by-product valorisation; ultrasound assisted extraction.

MeSH terms

  • Discriminant Analysis
  • Helianthus* / chemistry
  • Helianthus* / metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Metabolome
  • Metabolomics* / methods
  • Recycling

Grants and funding

The research was financially supported by Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (iNEST) from the European Union Next GenerationEU (PNRR—Missione 4 Componente 2, Investimento 1.5—D.D. 1508 23/06/2022, ECS00000043). This manuscript reflects only the authors’ views and opinions; neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for them. The research was financially supported also by the University of Padova (BIRD project no. 213148/2021) and by Bulgarian National Science Fund (project #KП-06-H37/21).