Characterization of the Key Aroma Compounds in the Fruit of Litsea pungens Hemsl. (LPH) by GC-MS/O, OAV, and Sensory Techniques

Abstract

The key aroma compounds in the fruit of Litsea pungens Hemsl. (LPH) were concentrated through solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS/O), quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), odor activity values (OAVs), and addition test. The results showed that LPH contained 31 aroma-active compounds (flavor dilution, FD = 9). Among them, 30 odorants were quantified by the standard curve method. The OAV analysis results showed that 25 odorants had OAVs ≥ 1, which could be considered as the potent odorants. D-Limonene and 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal had the highest OAVs (OAV = 9803 and 8399), followed by (Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal (OAV = 1893), β-myrcene (OAV = 1798), (E)-3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid ethyl (OAV = 1603), and β-caryophyllene (OAV = 1129). Addition experiments further confirmed that 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal, (Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal, and D-limonene contributed to lemon attribute, β-myrcene contributed to green attribute, citronellal contributed to mint and fresh note, and eucalyptol contributed to eucalyptus-like note were the key odorants.