Chemotaxonomic markers for the authentication of the historical remains of chicory extract from the eighteenth century and mass spectrometry of these markers
Abstract
The combination of extraction with different solvents with HPLC-MS(2) was used to identify chemotaxonomic markers (sesquiterpene lactones and hydroxycinnamic acids) to confirm whether the 200-year-old historical material is chicory extract. To compare and verify this approach, an analysis of current dry chicory root was performed simultaneously.
Although it was not possible to prove the presence of selected sesquiterpene lactones or hydroxycinnamic acids in the historical sample analyzed, arteincultone was found to be a suitable chemotaxonomic marker to prove that this sample was prepared from chicory in the past. Moreover, this is the first evidence of this substance in the plant Cichorium intybus.
In addition, the presence of other substances typical of chicory confirms the positive authentication of the sample. Mass spectrometric fragmentation of arteincultone, selected sesquiterpene lactones, and chicoric acid has also been studied in detail.