Comparison between HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS analysis of anthocyanins in highbush blueberries

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been widely used as a reliable technique to quantify anthocyanins in food samples. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a new technique that is having a great impact on food analysis. This study is the first to compare HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS quantifications of anthocyanins. The analyses were carried out for highbush blueberries at different stages of anthocyanin formation. In general, both techniques provided comparable quantitative anthocyanin profiles for the samples. HPLC could distinguish anthocyanin isomers, whereas MALDI-TOF MS proved to be more rapid in the accurate identification and quantification of anthocyanins with different masses. A single MALDI-TOF MS run took just 4 min. MALDI-TOF MS analysis can serve as a rapid alternative to HPLC for the analysis of anthocyanins in fruits.     

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of phenolic compounds in berries with diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (MS) detection: ribes species

High-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (MS) detection was used to study phenolic compounds in berries of black, green, red, and white currants (Ribes spp.). UV-visible spectrometry was a valuable tool for the identification of the class of the phenolic compound, whereas MS and MS-MS fragmentation data were useful for further structural characterization. Distinct similarities were found in the relative distribution of conjugated forms of phenolic compounds among the four currants. Phenolic acids were found mainly as hexose esters. Flavonol glycosides and anthocyanin pigments were mainly found as 3-O-rutinosides and second as 3-O-glucosides. However, cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside and quercetin hexoside-malonate were notable phenolic compounds in red currant. Flavonol hexoside-malonates were identified and quantified in the berries of currants for the first time.     

Analysis of phenolic compounds in two blackberry species (Rubus glaucus and Rubus adenotrichus) by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry

High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array (LC-DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (ESI-MS) was used to analyze phenolic compounds of two blackberry species ( Rubus glaucus Benth. and Rubus adenotrichus Schlech.) growing in South America. UV-visible spectrophotometry was a valuable tool for identifying the class of phenolic compound, whereas MS and MS ( n ) fragmentation data were useful for their structural characterization. Ellagitannins were the major compounds, with sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C being the predominant ones. The anthocyanin composition as well as the presence or absence of kaempferol glycosides can be used to distinguish the Rubus species studied. Flavonol hexoside-malonates were identified in both berries. Hydroxycinnamic acids were minor compounds and found as ferulic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acid esters. Similar contents were obtained by analysis of soluble ellagitannins and ellagic acid glycosides as ellagic acid equivalents and by analysis of ellagic acid equivalents released after acid hydrolysis.     

小叶女贞果实花青素组分鉴定及色谱纯化技术

为提高小叶女贞果实的食用、药用价值,该文系统研究了果实中花青素种类构成及提取物的制备技术。试验采用紫外可见光谱法、高效液相色谱-质谱串联法、酸水解制备苷元等技术对小叶女贞果实花青素含量、单体种类进行了测定,并借助提取、萃取、柱层析等技术研究了花青素提取物的分离纯化过程。研究结果如下:测得每100 g小叶女贞果实中含花青素总量为(499±18.42)mg,从中鉴定出2种花青素单体,分别为矢车菊素-3-O-葡萄糖苷和牵牛花色素-3-O-葡萄糖苷,并以后者为主要存在形式;获得了纯天然、简单易行的花青素提取物制备技术,主要包括酸化乙醇提取、乙酸乙脂萃取、Amberlite XAD-7HP大孔树脂层析分离步骤,最终制得的花青素提取物纯度为35%、得率为0.6%。该研究为后期制备高纯度牵牛花素-3-O-葡萄糖苷单体提供了良好原料基础,为深入研究小叶女贞果实花青素功能活性及其在食品、药品领域潜在应用提供了参考。     

Characterization of anthocyanins in grape juices by ion trap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A reverse phase HPLC and electrospray interface with ion trap mass spectrometer method was developed for the characterization of anthocyanins in Concord, Rubired, and Salvador grape juices. Rubired and Salvador grapes are hybrids from Vitis vinifera and Vitis rupestris. Concord grape is a grape from the native American cultivar Vitis labrusca. Individual anthocyanins in these three varieties were identified on the basis of UV-vis and MS spectra and further elucidated by MS/MS spectra. Anthocyanins in Salvador and Concord grapes were 3-O-glucosides, 3-O-(6' '-O-p-coumaroyl)glucosides, 3-O-(6' '-O-p-acetyl)glucosides, 3,5-O-diglucosides, and 3-O-(6' '-O-p-coumaroyl)-5-O-diglucosides of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin. Vitisin B was detected in Salvador grape juice. Anthocyanins in Rubired grape juice were primarily anthocyanin diglucosides: peonidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, malvidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, peonidin 3-O-(6' '-O-p-coumaroyl)-5-O-diglucoside, and malvidin 3-O-(6' '-O-p-coumaroyl)-5-O-diglucoside are the four major anthocyanins. The presence of pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, not previously reported, has been established for the first time in all three juices.     

Anthocyanins present in selected tropical fruits: acerola, jambolão, jussara, and guajiru

Many tropical fruits are rich in anthocyanins, though limited information is available about the characterization and quantification of these anthocyanins. The identification and quantification of anthocyanin pigments in four tropical fruits were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. Fruits studied included acerola (Malphigia emarginata), jussara (Euterpe edulis), jambol?o (Syzygium cumini), and guajiru (Chrysobalanus icaco). All four fruits were found to contain anthocyanin pigments. Anthocyanidin backbones included cyanidin, delphinidin, peonidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, and malvidin. Guajiru contained several acylated forms, while acerola, jussara, and jambol?o contained only nonacylated glycosides. These results demonstrate that these tropical fruits are rich in anthocyanins and that the anthocyanins are widely ranging in anthocyanidin backbone, glycosylation, and acylation.     

Electrospray and tandem mass spectroscopy as tools for anthocyanin characterization.

The utility of electrospray and tandem mass spectroscopy (ES-MS and MS-MS) in anthocyanin characterization was tested using different anthocyanin extracts. Anthocyanins were semipurified by using a C-18 resin, washed with acidified water followed by ethyl acetate, and recovered with acidified methanol. Samples were directly injected into a mass spectrometer in either aqueous or methanolic solutions. The positive charge of anthocyanins favored fast and effective ES-MS detection of intact molecular ions. Little interference from other compounds was observed when the ethyl acetate cleaning procedure was used. Tandem mass spectroscopy provided clear and characteristic fragmentation patterns. The voltage used affected only the proportions at which these fragments were present. ES-MS may be used as a fast procedure for identification of anthocyanins, requiring minimal sample preparation. In combination with HPLC, ES-MS and MS-MS could be very powerful tools for anthocyanin characterization and monitoring the authenticity of anthocyanin-containing fruit juices and vegetable extracts.     

Differentiation of Vitis vinifera L. and hybrid red grapes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of berry skin anthocyanins

Among the methods that have been developed for anthocyanin characterization, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) offers several analytical advantages in terms of speed, minimal sample handling, specificity, and reliability, without requiring any previous chromatographic separation. This study used MALDI-TOF MS to profile the anthocyanins from the berry skins of 23 red grape varieties clustered as (i) authentic Vitis vinifera grapes, (ii) American hybrid cultivars, and (iii) Casavecchia cultivars, previously characterized as functional crosses of V. vinifera with nondefined hybrid grapevines. Anthocyanin profiling demonstrated evidence of several varietal traits that enabled the differentiation of authentic V. vinifera from hybrid cultivars on a molecular basis. In particular, acyl 3,5-O-diglucoside anthocyanins were established as easily monitored molecular markers of the hybrid varieties. It was also demonstrated that MALDI-post source decay MS is a powerful tool to differentiate isobaric 3,5-O-diglucosides and their derivatives, which prevail in hybrid cultivars, from acylated 3-O-glucoside anthocyanins.     

Determination of anthocyanins from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) by HPLC-PDA, HPLC-MS, and NMR

Camu-camu [Myrciaria dubia (HBK) McVaugh] is a small fruit native to the Amazonian rain forest. Its anthocyanin profile has now been investigated for the first time. Fruits from two different regions of the S?o Paulo state, Brazil, were analyzed. The major anthocyanins were isolated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography. HPLC-PDA, HPLC-MS/MS, and 1H NMR were used to confirm the identity of the main anthocyanins of camu-camu. Cyanidin-3-glucoside was identified as the major pigment in the fruits from both regions, representing 89.5% in the fruits produced in Iguape and 88.0% in those from Mirandópolis, followed by the delphinidin-3-glucoside, ranging between 4.2 and 5.1%, respectively. Higher total anthocyanin contents were detected in the fruits from Iguape (54.0 +/- 25.9 mg/100 g) compared to those from Mirandópolis (30.3 +/- 6.8 mg/100 g), most likely because of the lower temperatures in the Iguape region.     

Probing anthocyanin profiles in purple sweet potato cell line (Ipomoea batatas L. Cv. Ayamurasaki) by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A purple line cell line (PL) generated from the storage root of purple-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cv. Ayamurasaki produces a complex mixture of anthocyanins, and seven major anthocyanins have been isolated and identified to date. All these anthocyanins are exclusively cyanidin or peonidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides and their acylated derivatives. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to photodiode array (PDA) detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) on a triple quadrupole instrument was employed to further investigate the anthocyanin composition of the PL extract. Precursor-ion analysis, product-ion analysis, and selected reaction monitoring (SRM) MS/MS experiments were conducted sequentially to screen and characterize anthocyanins in the aqueous extract of the PL cell line. Precursor-ion analysis specifically detected the molecular cations of each category of anthocyanins by scanning the precursors of anthocyanidins (cyanidin, peonidin, and pelargonidin). The detected molecular cation of each anthocyanin was fragmented using product-ion analysis by collisionally activated dissociation (CAD). MS/MS using SRM detection was conducted to further confirm the fragmentation observed during product-ion analysis. In comparison to the commonly used product-ion analysis technique, the combined use of precursor-ion analysis, product-ion analysis, and SRM is particularly useful for positive identification of anthocyanins in complex matrixes and provides important information to confirm the proposed structures. Twenty-six anthocyanins were detected and characterized in the aqueous extract of the PL cell line. Several anthocyanins, including two pelargonidin derivatives, were tentatively identified for the first time in these cells.     

Quantitative analysis of anticancer 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in infected sorghum seedlings

3-Deoxyanthocyanidins are structurally related to the anthocyanin pigments, which are popular as health-promoting phytochemicals. Here, it is demonstrated that the 3-deoxyanthocyanidins are more cytotoxic on human cancer cells than the 3-hydroxylated anthocyanidin analogues. At 200 microM concentration, luteolinidin reduced the viability of HL-60 and HepG2 cells by 90 and 50%, respectively. Sorghum is a major source of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, which are present as seed pigments and as phytoalexins responding to pathogen attack. On the basis of the collision-induced dissociation spectra of luteolinidin and apigeninidin, an LC-MS/MS method, operating in multiple-reaction monitoring mode, was developed for the specific detection and accurate quantification of these compounds in complex mixtures, which may be difficult to analyze using absorbance measurements. The results demonstrated that inoculated sorghum seedlings could be utilized for convenient and large-scale production of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins. A quantity of almost 270 microg/g (fresh weight) of luteolinidin was produced 72 h after fungal inoculation of 1-week-old seedlings.     

Systematic identification and characterization of anthocyanins by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS in common foods in the United States: fruits and berries

Anthocyanins were systematically identified and characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS coupled with diode array detection in common fruits from U.S. food markets and other commercial sources. Of the 25 different fruits that were screened, 14 fruits were found to contain anthocyanins; the number of anthocyanins varied from 2 in peaches and nectarines to 31 in Concord grape. The individual anthocyanins were identified by comparing their mass spectral data and retention times with those of standards and published data. In all of the samples analyzed, only 6 common anthocyanidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, peonidin and malvidin, were found. In addition to the well-known major anthocyanins, a number of minor anthocyanins were identified for the first time. Some possible guidelines that help to identify anthocyanins in foods with complex anthocyanin composition were deduced and discussed. For the first time, this paper presents complete anthocyanin HPLC profiles and MS spectral data of common fruits using the same uniform experimental conditions.     

Characterization of pigments from different high speed countercurrent chromatography wine fractions

A red wine, made from Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Tannat (40%) cultivars, was fractionated by high speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC). The biphasic solvent system consisting of tert-butyl methyl ether/n-butanol/acetonitrile/water (2/2/1/5, acidified with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) was chosen for its demonstrated efficiency in separating anthocyanins. The different native and derived anthocyanins were identified on the basis of their UV-visible spectra, their elution time on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their mass spectra, before and after thiolysis. The HSCCC method allowed the separation of different families of anthocyanin-derived pigments that were eluted in different fractions according to their structures. The hydrosoluble fraction was almost devoid of native anthocyanins. Further characterization (glucose quantification, UV-visible absorbance measurements) indicated that it contained flavanol and anthocyanin copolymers in which parts of the anthocyanin units were in colorless forms. Pigments in the hydrosoluble fraction showed increased resistance to sulfite bleaching and to the nucleophilic attack of water.     

Anthocyanin composition of wild bananas in Thailand

Anthocyanins were isolated from male bracts of 10 wild species of bananas (Musa spp. and Ensete spp.) distributed in Thailand. Six major anthocyanin pigments were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). They are delphinidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 611.2), cyanidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 595.8), petunidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 624.9), pelargonidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 579.4), peonidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 608.7), and malvidin-3-rutinoside (m/z 638.8). On the basis of the types of pigment present, the wild bananas can be divided into 5 groups. The first group comprises M. itinerans, Musa sp. one, Musa sp. two, and M. acuminata accessions, which contain almost or all anthocyanin pigments except for pelargonidin-3-rutinoside, including both nonmethylated and methylated anthocyanins. The second group, M. acuminata subsp. truncata, contains only malvidin-3-rutinoside while the third group, M. coccinea, contains cyanidin-3-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-rutinoside. The forth group, M. acuminata yellow bract and E. glaucum do not appear to contain any anthocyanin pigment. The fifth group consists of M. balbisiana, M. velutina, M. laterita, and E. superbum which contain only nonmethylated anthocyanin, delphinidin-3-rutinoside, and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. Total anthocyanin content in the analyzed bracts ranged from 0-119.70 mg/100 g bract fresh weight. The differences in the type of anthocyanin and variation in the amounts present indicate that wild bananas show biochemical diversity, which may be useful for identifying specific groups of bananas or for clarifying the evolution of flavonoid metabolism in each banana group.     

红叶葡萄品种叶片花色苷种类的鉴定与分析

为解决葡萄园中由葡萄修剪产生的大量叶片残留问题,提高修剪产生的叶片的利用价值,本试验以8612、玫瑰香、红鸡心3个红叶葡萄品种和葡萄园皇后、玫瑰露、秋红3个绿叶葡萄品种不同发育时期的叶片为研究对象,利用MATLAB软件对整张叶片的图像数据进行提取,计算色差值;利用超高效液相-质谱法(LC-MS)检测花色苷的成分和含量,探讨不同发育时期叶片中花色苷不同组分的变化规律。结果表明,不同发育时期的红色和绿色叶片色差指数L^*、a^*、b^*变化趋势明显不同,共检测到18种花色苷组分,包括花青素类(4种)、甲基花青素类(4种)、花翠素类(4种)、甲基花翠素类(2种)和二甲基花翠素类(4种)。以上5类花色苷在红色叶片中均被检测到,绿叶品种中未发现花翠素类和甲基花翠素类花色苷。花色苷定量结果显示,红色叶片不同发育时期花色苷含量为123.468~855.001 mg·100g^-1,绿色叶片花色苷含量为4.407~44.517 mg·100g^-1。甲基化类花色苷占比随叶片发育均逐渐增大。花色苷酰化修饰类型分析结果发现,香豆酰化类型花色苷含量高于其他酰化类型花色苷,在花色苷总含量中所占比例较高,而阿魏酰化和糖酰化类花色苷含量非常少。色差和不同类型花色苷成分的相关性分析结果表明,红色叶片的色差指数与更多类型的花色苷含量存在相关关系。红色葡萄叶片中花色苷种类丰富、含量较高,是花色苷类化合物的潜在来源,具有很大的利用价值。本研究通过对叶片中花色苷成分和含量进行了详细调查,为今后葡萄园中叶片的加工再利用提供了依据。     

New phenolic grape skin products from Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir

Anthocyanins and their related compounds were extracted from grape skins of Pinot noir, using 50% aqueous methanol, and purified by solid phase extraction chromatography using XAD-7 resin to obtain a pigment-rich fraction. This fraction was subjected to multilayer coil countercurrent chromatography (MLCCC) using a quaternary solvent system consisting of tert-butyl methyl ether/n-butanol/acetonitrile/water acidified with 0.01% trifluoroacetic acid (2:2:0.1-1.8:5) (v/v/v/v) in a step gradient elution to separate anthocyanin oligomers from grape anthocyanins. In the process of the characterization of the MLCCC fractions by electrospray mass spectrometry, two noncolored anthocyanin derivatives were found and characterized on the basis of their mass spectral data. As a result, these compounds have been tentatively identified as coupling products between both hydrated malvidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside, with 2-S-glutathionyl caffeoyl tartaric acid (GRP). It is therefore proposed that grape skins contain this new class of coupling product, and a possible chemical pathway for their formation is suggested.     

Characterization of anthocyanins from the fruits of baguaçu (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg)

Anthocyanin pigments in the berries of bagua?u (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg), a tropical fruit from Brazil, were extracted with 0.1% HCl in ethanol, and the crude anthocyanin extract was purified by Amberlite XAD-7 open-column chromatography. Six major anthocyanins were isolated by preparative HPLC, and their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic methods (TLC, UV-vis, MS, and (1)H NMR). Delphinidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, cyanidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, petunidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, pelargonidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, peonidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, and malvidin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside were identified. On the basis of chromatographic data the total anthocyanin content was 342 mg/100 g of fresh bagua?u berries. Therefore, the concomitant presence of six anthocyanins in a single plant species makes this product promising as a new pigment source.     

Quantitation of total folate in whole blood using LC-MS/MS

An accurate method for measuring whole blood total folate using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry is described and compared to GC/MS and a chemiluminescence assay. Whole blood from normal adults (n = 15) was fortified with a [(13)C(6)]para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) internal standard and treated with 12.1 N hydrochloric acid at 110 degrees C for 4 h to hydrolyze all folates to pABA. Contaminants in the hydrolysate were adsorbed onto a C18 SPE cartridge. The eluate containing the folate catabolite pABA was partitioned into ethyl acetate and methylesterified with trimethylsilyldiazomethane. The methyl-pABA derivatives were quantified by positive-ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)LC-MS/MS. An isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (70:30) (v/v) on a C18 analytical column was used with a postcolumn reagent of 0.025% formic acid. The limit of quantitation for folate was 56.6 nmol/L RBC, and the limit of detection was 22.6 nmol/L RBC. Folate levels as determined by LC-MS/MS correlated well with the chemiluminescence assay and a GC/MS method. This new LC-MS/MS method provides enhanced sample throughput (n = 36 per day) as compared to GC/MS methods. LC-MS/MS will enable accurate measurements of red blood cell (RBC) folate in nutrition surveys and clinical trials.     

Color and stability of pigments derived from the acetaldehyde-mediated condensation between malvidin 3-O-glucoside and (+)-catechin

A pigment derived from the acetaldehyde-mediated condensation between (+)-catechin and malvidin 3-O-glucoside has been prepared and isolated by semipreparative HPLC, and its characteristics of color and stability have been studied and compared with that of malvidin glucoside in aqueous solutions. When the pH was increased from 2.2 to 5.5, the solution of the pigment became progressively more violet (lambda(max) = 560 nm at pH 5.5), whereas similar solutions of the anthocyanin were almost colorless at pH 4.0. This behavior indicated that the anthocyanin moiety of the pigment was more protected against water attack, and thus the formation of its quinonoidal forms was favored. The color of the pigment also showed more stability with regard to bleaching by SO(2) than that of malvidin glucoside. Nevertheless, the pigment was more sensitive to degradation in aqueous solution than the anthocyanin. The cleavage of the ethyl bridge that links the anthocyanin and the catechin constituted the first step in its degradation, as demonstrated by the formation of malvidin glucoside as a major product.     

Effect of storage temperature on the stability of anthocyanins of a fermented black carrot (Daucus carota var. L.) beverage: shalgam

The effect of temperature on the stability of shalgam anthocyanins stored at 4, 25, and 40 degrees C for 90 days was investigated. The effect of pasteurization and sorbate addition on the anthocyanin stability as compared to control was also studied. The monomeric anthocyanin content and color density decreased with increasing time as a function of storage temperature whereas the percent polymeric color and browning increased. The same trends were observed in control, pasteurized, and sorbate-added shalgam samples. Shalgam anthocyanins consisted of two nonacylated and three acylated cyanidin derivatives. Acylated anthocyanins were more stable when compared to nonacylated ones at all storage temperatures. The activation energies, 11.11-11.64 kcal/mol, were calculated from the reaction rate constants evaluated taking first-order reaction kinetics. The highest anthocyanin retention was observed at 4 degrees C storage temperature with a half-life between 231 and 239 days.