Analysis of cyclitols in different Quercus species by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
BACKGROUND
The carbohydrate profile of some woods used for aging wines and spirits has been recently studied using a pressurized liquid extraction method, the main differences found being related to cyclitol content. The aim of this study was to perform a detailed study of these compounds in woods of different Quercus species in order to identify two unknown compounds which appeared in the extracts and to verify whether the obtained profile was homogeneous for other Quercus species.


RESULTS
Besides the known monosaccharides and five cyclitols previously described, three deoxy-inositols (epi-, vibo- and scyllo-quercitol) were identified. The presence of these eight cyclitols was confirmed in all subgenera and species of Quercus analyzed, allowing a characteristic cyclitol profile.


CONCLUSIONS
Three deoxy-inositols (quercitols) have been identified in the carbohydrate profile of oak wood. All examined Quercus species displayed a common profile consisting of four inositols and four quercitols, which represent a good dataset for characterization of this genus.
Rodríguez-Sánchez
Sonia
S
Instituto de Química Orgánica General, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Juan de la Cierva 3, Madrid, Spain.
Ruiz-Matute
Ana I
AI
Alañón
María Elena
ME
Pérez-Coello
María Soledad
MS
de Julio-Torres
Luis F
LF
Morales
Ramón
R
Martínez-Castro
Isabel
I
D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D054812:Cyclitols / Q000032:analysis*; D019649:Food Industry / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
D054812:Cyclitols; D010936:Plant Extracts