A new TLC method to detect the presence of ground papaya seed in ground black pepper

Abstract

A simple TLC method to detect the adulteration of black pepper powder with ground papaya seed was developed. Ethylene dichloride extracts showed a fluorescent spot at 366 nm at Rf 0.943 that proved to be a promising marker for the presence of papaya seed powder in black pepper powder even at a level of 20 g kg-1. Partial purification by column chromatography followed by GC/MS analysis indicated that this fluorescent marker was a mixture of aldehydes such as n-nonanal, 2-decenal and trans-2-undecenal which were absent from black pepper. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.