Characterize neuroactive compound profile (neuroprotective and neurodisrupting compounds) in organic, conventional and processed tomatoes.
PCA of FS data (+ mode)
Results suggests a bigger difference between differently processed tomatoes (processed (PS) versus fresh tomatoes (PF, D and DO)) than different type of fresh tomatoes (plump (PF) versus "datterini" (D&DO)) and even smaller diffeerence between differently produced tomatoes (conventional (D) versus organic (DO)).
Examples of the distribution of two annotated compounds between different groups of tomatoes
Figure 2A: Serotonin as a representative of neuroprotective and group specific compound, obtained in D, DO and PF ((D & DO & PF) > PS).
Figure 2B: Aspartame as a representative of neuro-disrupting and non-group specific compound (NS) with similar distribution between different group of samples.
Based on the preliminary results, the developed compound annotation strategy is able to identify neuroprotective and neuro-disrupting compounds at different confidence level and suggests the presence of group and non-group specific neuroactive compounds
Characterize carotenoids profile in organic, conventional and processed tomatoes.
Five (pythone, b-carotene, lycopene, lutein, neoxanthin and violaxanthin) out of 8 investigated carotenoids were detected;
Pythone, b-carotene and lycopene were determined at the highest concetrnation in all analysed groups of tomates, namely conventiona and organic detterini (D and DO), conventional plump tomatoes (PF) and processed tomatoes (PS);
Neoxanthin and violaxanthin were detected <LOQ.
Samples were preapred in six biological replicates per group
For each group, pooled samples were preapred in tripicates - confirmign method repeatabilty
DO and PF contains the highest concentration of carotenoids, while the lwoest contration of carotenoids were detected in PS group.
There is no statistically significant difference (p > 0.5) in the distribution of lycopen between different group of tomatoes.
B-caroten, pythone and lutein showed to follow the similar trend as an example of lycopen.
There is statistically significant difference (p < 0.5) in the distribution of violaxanthin between different group of tomatoes, namely its disitrbution in PS difference compared to its distributino in D, DO and PF tomato groups.
Neoxanthin showed to follow the similar trend as an example of violaxanthin.
The analysis of seperated skin and core of PF tomatoes suggested that the presence of violaxanthin and neoxanthine is higher in tomato skin than core, which explains lower presence/absence in processed tomatoes (tomato sauce made of pilled tomatoes- pelati).