title: Post-irradiation changes of the volatile oil constituents of Monodora myristica (Gaertn) Dunal.
abstract: Volatile oil rich spices cannot be sterilised by pasteurisation because of the presence of thermal-sensitive components. In this article, we report the effect of irradiation on the volatile constituents of Monodora myristica. The samples were irradiated at ambient conditions at dose levels of 0 and 15 kGy using a linear accelerator at a dose rate of approximately 10(7) Gy s(-1). The volatile oil was extracted via headspace analysis and the quantification carried out with a HP-5MS fused silica column. Twenty-three constituents were identified with alpha-phellandrene as the major constituent (53%). Electron-beam irradiation of M. myristica did not significantly affect the volatile constituent profile at 15 kGy. Except alpha-thujene, which was increased from 7.18% to 16.76%, the most affected constituents were those that constitute less than 0.10% of the oil. Irradiation could be an effective way for decontamination of M. myristica.
authors: Max Rubner Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ernährung und Lebensmittel, Institut für Lebensmittel- und Bioverfahrenstechnik and Molekularbiologisches Zentrum, Karlsruhe, Germany. pconyenekwe@yahoo.com
authors: Paul Chidozie
authors: PC
authors: Onyenekwe
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Stahl
authors: Godwin
authors: G
authors: Adejo
mesh_terms: D029061:Annonaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005514:Food Irradiation; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D017365:Spices / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C000590711:alpha-thujene; C005403:alpha phellandrene