title: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) reflectance technology for the determination of tocopherols in alfalfa.
abstract: The vitamin E (alpha- and (beta+gamma)-tocopherol) contents present in alfalfa (fresh or dehydrated) were analysed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology together with a remote reflectance fibre-optic probe. The range of vitamin E was 0.55-5.16 mg/100 g for alpha-tocopherol and 0.07-0.48 for (beta+gamma)-tocopherol. The regression method employed was modified partial least squares (MPLS). The equations developed using the fibre-optic probe for 69 samples of alfalfa (dehydrated and fresh) to determine the content of vitamin E in feeds had multiple correlation coefficients (RSQs) and prediction corrected standard errors (SEP (C)) of 0.946 and 0.321 mg/100 g for alpha-tocopherol and 0.956 and 0.022 mg/100 g for (beta+gamma)-tocopherol. The predicted values of vitamin E in feeds using NIRS technology applying the fibre-optic probe directly on the sample with neither previous treatment nor manipulation are comparable to those obtained using the chemical method, which included alkaline hydrolysis and hexane extraction of the vitamin from the unsaponifiable fraction before chromatographic determination.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Analítica, Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain. inmaglez@usal.es
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González-Martín
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hernández-Hierro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustamante-Rangel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barros-Ferreiro
mesh_terms: D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D024505:Tocopherols