RADICAL UNIQUE TO GAMMA-IRRADIATED ALLSPICE AND CINNAMON AND ITS UTILITY FOR DETECTION OF IRRADIATED FOODS

Gamma-Irradiation at a practical dose level of allspice and cinnamon generates a principal signal (signal I, g-value: 2.0048-2.0050) and a minor signal (signal II) at 30 G lower field from signal I in the electron spin resonance spectrum. Signal I, which was not increased in red pepper by photo-exposure, was increased in allspice and cinnamon by gamma-irradiation, heating and even photo-exposure. Signal II was generated only by gamma-irradiation, was little influenced by humidity and was stable for a long time. The ESR method with signal II was applicable to detection of allspice and cinnamon irradiated at 5 kGy or more for up to 6 months after irradiation, as well as allspice irradiated at 10 kGy or more and cinnamon at 5 kGy or more for up to a year. However, signal intensities of signal II differed to some extent between allspice and cinnamon, and even between varieties of cinnamon. Signals I and II were both enhanced after extraction with methanol. Since the rate of increase in signal I was obviously distinct from that of signal II, the radicals corresponding to these signals were presumed to be located at different positions of the matrix of the spice. The methanolic extracts did not yield a major component common to the spices giving signal II.