Author(s): DUTRA, L. M.; TELES, P. H. V.; MELO, N. F. de; NAGATA, N.; ALMEIDA, J. R. G. da S.

Summary: Passiflora spp., commonly known as passion fruit, hold significant economic value in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries, and are traditionally employed to alleviate insomnia and anxiety. Several analytical techniques are utilized for quality control and differentiation of medicinal plants with therapeutic purposes. In this study, we investigated the potential of Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis as a rapid and non-invasive method for discriminating six Passiflora species. The ATR-FTIR fingerprint revealed a large number of vibrational absorption bands in the region at 2000 to 600 cm?1 typical of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, polyesters, pectins, lignins, and lipids in Passiflora spp. Principal components analysis of the wavenumbers of ATR data was effective in the differentiation of Passiflora (Passiflora alata Curtis, Passiflora cincinnata Mast., Passiflora setacea DC., Passiflora alata Curtis var. BRS Mel do Cerrado, Passiflora cincinnata Mast. var. BRS Sertão Forte, and Passiflora setacea DC. var. BRS Pérola do Cerrado). The loadings plot revealed that the discrimination by Passiflora spp. fingerprint were mainly to the presence of flavonoids. These results suggest ATR-IR as a potentially reliable alternative for characterization, chemophenetic studies, and quality control purposes of medicinal plants.

Publication year: 2023

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Semi-arid Region

Keywords: ATR-FTIR, Chemometrics, Controle de Qualidade, Flavonoids, Flavonóide, Impressão digital, Maracujá, Passiflora, Passion fruits, Quality control, Quimiométrico