Ultra(high)-pressure liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-time-of-flight-ion mobility-high definition mass spectrometry for the rapid identification and structural characterization of flavonoid glycosides from cauliflower waste

Multidimensional analytical approach based on UHPLC-UV-ion mobility-MS for the screening of natural pigments

Here, we propose a novel strategy that combines a typical ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), data-independent mass spectrometry (MS(E)) workflow with traveling wave ion mobility (TWIM) and UV detection, to improve the characterization of carotenoids and chlorophylls in complex biological matrices. UV detection selectively highlighted pigments absorbing at specific wavelengths, while TWIM coupled to MS was used to maximize the peak capacity. We applied this approach for the analysis of pigments in different microalgae samples, including Chlorella vulgaris, Dunaliella salina, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Using UHPLC-UV-MS(E) information (retention time, absorbance at 450 nm, and accurate masses of precursors and product ions), we tentatively identified 26 different pigments (carotenes, chlorophylls, and xanthophylls). By adding TWIM information (collision cross sections), we further resolved 5 isobaric pigments, not resolved by UHPLC-UV-MS(E) alone. The characterization of the molecular phenotypes allowed us to differentiate the microalgae species. Our results demonstrate that a combination of TWIM and UV detection with traditional analytical approaches increases the selectivity and specificity of analysis, providing a new tool to characterize pigments in biological samples. We anticipate that such an analytical approach will be extended to other lipidomics and metabolomics applications.

Flavonoid interactions during digestion, absorption, distribution and metabolism: a sequential structure-activity/property relationship-based approach in the study of bioavailability and bioactivity

Flavonoids are a group of polyphenols that provide health-promoting benefits upon consumption. However, poor bioavailability has been a major hurdle in their use as drugs or nutraceuticals. Low bioavailability has been associated with flavonoid interactions at various stages of the digestion, absorption and distribution process, which is strongly affected by their molecular structure. In this review, we use structure-activity/property relationship to discuss various flavonoid interactions with food matrices, digestive enzymes, intestinal transporters and blood proteins. This approach reveals specific bioactive properties of flavonoids in the gastrointestinal tract as well as various barriers for their bioavailability. In the last part of this review, we use these insights to determine the effect of different structural characteristics on the overall bioavailability of flavonoids. Such information is crucial when flavonoid or flavonoid derivatives are used as active ingredients in foods or drugs.

Enzyme-assisted extraction enhancing the phenolic release from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) outer leaves

Phenolic compounds are highly present in byproducts from the cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) harvest and are thus a valuable source for valorization toward phenolic-rich extracts. In this study, we aimed to optimize and characterize the release of individual phenolic compounds from outer leaves of cauliflower, using two commercially available polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, Viscozyme L and Rapidase. As major results, the optimal conditions for the enzyme treatment were: enzyme/substrate ratio of 0.2% for Viscozyme L and 0.5% for Rapidase, temperature 35 °C, and pH 4.0. Using a UPLC-HD-TOF-MS setup, the main phenolic compounds in the extracts were identified as kaempferol glycosides and their combinations with different hydroxycinnamic acids. The most abundant components were kaempferol-3-feruloyldiglucoside and kaempferol-3-glucoside (respectively, 37.8 and 58.4 mg rutin equiv/100 g dry weight). Incubation of the cauliflower outer leaves with the enzyme mixtures resulted in a significantly higher extraction yield of kaempferol-glucosides as compared to the control treatment.

Combined alkaline hydrolysis and ultrasound-assisted extraction for the release of nonextractable phenolics from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) waste

Cauliflower waste contains high amounts phenolic compounds, but conventional solvent extraction misses high amounts of nonextractable phenolics (NEP), which may contribute more to the valorization of these waste streams. In this study, the NEP content and composition of cauliflower waste were investigated. The ability of alkaline hydrolysis, sonication, and their combination to release NEP was assessed. Alkaline hydrolysis with sonication was found to extract the highest NEP content (7.3 ± 0.17 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry waste), which was higher than the extractable fraction. The highest yield was obtained after treatment of 2 M NaOH at 60 °C for 30 min of sonication. Quantification and identification were done using U(H)PLC-DAD and U(H)PLC-ESI-MS(E). Kaempferol and quercetin glucosides along with several phenolic acids were found. The results of the study show that there are higher amounts of valuable health-promoting compounds from cauliflower waste than what is currently described in the literature.

Analysis of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in rapeseeds (Brassica napus L. var. napus) by HPLC-PDA--ESI(--)-MS(n)/HRMS

A comprehensive description of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in Brassica napus L. var. napus seeds is important to improve rapeseed quality. HPLC-PDA-ESI(-)-MS(n)/HRMS has been broadly applied to study phenolic compounds in plants. In the present study, crude phenolic compounds extracted from rapeseed were subjected to column chromatography, alkaline hydrolysis, and HPLC-PDA-ESI(-)-MS(n)/HRMS analysis. A total of 91 flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were detected, including 39 kaempferol derivatives, 11 isorhamnetin derivatives, 5 quercetin derivatives, 6 flavanols and their oligomers, and 30 hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. A total of 78 of these compounds were tentatively identified; of these, 55 were reported for the first time in B. napus L. var. napus and 24 were detected for the first time in the genus Brassica. This research enriches our knowledge of the phenolic composition of rapeseed and provides a reliable guide for the selection of rapeseed with valuable breeding potential.