title: Amino Acid profile as a feasible tool for determination of the authenticity of fruit juices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fruit juice is a nutrient rich food product with a direct connection to public health. The purpose of this research was to determine the amino acid profile of juices and provide a quick and accurate indicator for determining their authenticity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The method of analysis was HPLC with fluorescence detector and pre-column derivatization by orthophtaldialdehyde (OPA). Sixty-six samples of fruit juices were analyzed, and fourteen amino acids were identified and determined in the sampled fruit juices. The fruit samples used for this analysis were apples, oranges, cherry, pineapple, mango, apricot, pomegranate, peach and grapes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 32% of samples tested in this study had a lower concentrate percentage as compared to that of their labels and/or other possible authenticity problems in the manufacturing process. The following samples showed probable adulteration: four cherry juice samples, two pomegranate juice samples, one mango, three grape, four peach, seven orange, two apple and one apricot juice samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, determining the amount of amino acids and comparing sample amino acids profiles with the standard values seems to be an indicator for quality control. This method can provide the regulatory agencies with a tool, to help produce a healthier juice. The aim of this study is the analytical control of the fruit juice composition is becoming an important issue, and HPLC can provide an important and essential tool for more accurate research as well as for routine analysis.
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Students' Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadpoor
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansarin
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahboob
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nemati
keywords: Adulteration; Amino acid; Authenticity; Fruit juice; HPLC