Characterization of Odor-Active Volatiles in Hawthorn Puree Using Thermal Desorption System Coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Olfactometry and GC-Flame Photometric Detector.

The volatile compounds in hawthorn puree obtained from three cultivars (Y1, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge cv. "Waibahong", Y2, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge cv. "Damianqiu", and Y3, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge cv. "Dajinxing") were analyzed by the thermal desorption system coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry and GC-flame photometric detector. In the samples of Y1, Y2, and Y3, 40, 42, and 42 odor-active compounds were, respectively, identified by olfactometry. Methyl 2-methylbutanoate, methyl hexanoate, hexyl isobutanoate, methional, heptanal, and ( Z)-3-hexenyl acetate contributed largely to the characteristic aroma of the three samples. Additionally, the odor activity value (OAV) was used to determine the main compounds and 3-mercaptohexyl acetate (OAV: 10-18), 3-mercapto-2-methylpentanal (OAV: 4-7), methyl 2-methylbutanoate (OAV: 9-21), methyl hexanoate (OAV: 8-16), and 2-pentyl acetate (OAV: 5-12) were considered as the important contributors to the aroma of hawthorn samples.