Detection of Oleocanthal in Freshly Pressed Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
According to a recent report in Nature, freshly pressed extra-virgin olive oil contains a compound, oleocanthal, that has properties similar to the common anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen. We used DART to rapidly examine cooking oils for the presence of this compound. Fresh-pressed extra-virgin olive oil from a specialty food store was compared with a medium-quality grocery-store brand. Sesame oil and a low-quality spray-on cooking oil were also examined. No sample preparation was required.
Glass melting point tubes were dipped into the oil samples and then placed in front of the DART source for analysis. The DART source was operated with helium in positive-ion mode at a gas heater temperature of 350°C. A cotton swab dipped in dilute aqueous ammonium hydroxide was placed nearby to permit the formation of [M+NH4 ]+ for triglycerides and other oil components. A mass spectrum of neat PEG 600 on a glass rod was acquired and stored in the same data file to provide an external calibrant for exact mass measurements.