Application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis methods for the non-destructive evaluation of phenolics compounds in moringa powder

Authors: JOSHI, RAHUL - Chungnam National University; SATHASIVAM, RAMARAJ - Chungnam National University; PARK, SANG-UN - Chungnam National University; LEE, HONGSEOK - Korean Rural Development Administration; Kim, Moon; BAEK, INSUCK - Orise Fellow; CHO, BYOUNG-KWAN - Chungnam National University

Submitted to: Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2021
Publication Date: 12/22/2021
Citation: Joshi, R., Sathasivam, R., Park, S., Lee, H., Kim, M.S., Baek, I., Cho, B. 2021. Application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis methods for the non-destructive evaluation of phenolics compounds in moringa powder. Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12010010.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12010010

Interpretive Summary: Plants of the Moringazeae family are commonly cultivated in many parts of the world for food and medicinal use. Valued for their abundance of bioactive chemical compounds such as therapeutic phenolic compounds, moringa plant leaves are often processed into powder form. Lab-based methods conventionally used to measure phenolic compounds in the powders are, unfortunately, poorly suited to routine use in powder processing due to their sample-destructive nature as well as their operational time and expertise requirements. Comparing the use of three different regression methods coupled with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), this study found that these FT-IR methods could effectively predict the content of phenolic compounds in moringa powder, and should be investigated for analyzing other plant powders as well. The results indicate that FT-IR is feasible as an alternative analytical tool that could be developed for use by food powder processors to rapidly, effectively, and nondestructively measure phytochemicals in real-time powder processing applications.

Technical Abstract: In this study, non-destructive measurements of phenolics compounds in moringa powder was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy within the 3500- 700 cm-1 spectral range. Three major phenolics compounds, namely, kaempferol, benzoic acid, and rutin were measured in five different varieties of moringa powder which was approved with respect to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The prediction performance of three different regression methods, i.e., partial least squares regression (PLSR), principal component regression (PCR), & net analyte signal (NAS)-based methodology, called hybrid linear analysis (HLA/GO) were compared to achieve the best prediction model. The obtained results for the PLS regression method resulted in better performance for the prediction analysis of phenolics compounds in moringa powder. The PLSR model attained a correlation coefficient value of 0.997 and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.035 mg/g respectively which is comparatively higher than other two regression models. Based on the results, it can be concluded that FT-IR spectroscopy in conjunction with a suitable regression analysis method could be an effective analytical tool for the non-destructive prediction of phenolic compounds in moringa powder.