By means of activity-guided fractionation using taste dilution analysis, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, one-/two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, LC-MS/MS quantitation, dose-over-threshold considerations, and sensory spiking experiments, kaempferol 3- O-(2‴- O-sinapoyl-β-sophoroside), exhibiting a bitter taste above the low threshold concentration of 3.4 μmol/L, was found for the first time as the key molecule contributing to the unpleasant bitter taste of rapeseed (canola) protein isolates. This finding opens new avenues for a biorefinery approach targeting an off-taste removal.
Keywords: bitter taste; canola; kaempferol 3-O-(2‴-O-sinapoyl-β-sophoroside); rapeseed; taste dilution analysis.