Rapid characterization of hypanthium and seed in wild and cultivated rosehip: application of Raman microscopy combined with multivariate analysis

Rosehip (pseudo-fruit) of dog rose (Rosa canina L.) is highly valued, and owing to nutritional and sensory properties it has a significant place in the food industry. This work represents an innovative report focusing on the evaluation of the phytochemical composition of rosehips (hypanthium and seed) grown in different locations in Serbia, using Raman microspectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis. Some significant differences arose between the analysed rosehip samples with regard to the chemical profile of both hypanthium parenchyma cells and seed, although no evident discrimination was recorded between the samples of wild and cultivated rosehip. The differences between the hypanthium samples compared were mainly determined by the content of carotenoids, phenolic compounds and polysaccharides, whereas phenolics, polysaccharides (pectin, cellulose and hemicellulose) and lipids (to a lower extent) contributed to the seed sample discrimination. The differences observed between the rosehip samples may be attributed to abiotic factors (growing, ripening and storage conditions), which had a significant impact on the carotenoid and polyphenols biosynthesis.