Characterization of polyphenol compounds from the roots and stems of Parthenocissus laetevirens by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Production of Stilbenes in Callus Cultures of the Maltese Indigenous Grapevine Variety, Ġellewża

The production of secondary metabolites in tissue culture has been considered as an alternative to the cultivation and harvesting of crops intended for this purpose. The present study was aimed at the growth of callus and production of polyphenolic compound of callus derived from a Maltese indigenous grapevine variety, Ġellewża. Callus was inoculated onto plant growth regulators-enriched Murashige Skoog media (MSm) to determine whether polyphenols are produced in vitro as well as to determine the best combination of plant growth regulators needed for the production of these metabolites. From results obtained, it was observed that the best callus production was obtained by auxin-enriched MSm. In fact, indole acetic acid and indole acetic acid /6-benzyl aminopurine enhanced biomass accumulation (3.04 g and 3.39 g) as opposed to the others (<1.97 g). On the other hand, parameters showing the presence of flavonoids (tonality, 3.80), particularly anthocyanins (24.09 mg/kg) and total polyphenols (1.42 mg/g), were optimum in the presence of cytokinins, particularly 6-benzyl aminopurine. Analysis for single polyphenols revealed a high amount a particular stilbene: polydatin (glucoside of resveratrol). Resveratrol and other typical polyphenols, found in mature berries, were also found in significant quantities, while the other polyphenolic compounds were found in minimal quantities. This is the first study to describe the production and composition of polyphenols in Ġellewża callus cultures. From the results obtained, it can be seen that this grape tissue is an excellent alternative for the production of polyphenols from the stilbene group, which can be upscaled and exploited commercially.

Comparative metabolomics reveals defence-related modification of citrinin by Penicillium citrinum within a synthetic Penicillium-Pseudomonas community

Co-occurring microorganisms have been proved to influence the performance of each other by metabolic means in nature. Here we generated a synthetic fungal-bacterial community comprising Penicillium citrinum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa employing the previously described membrane-separated co-culture device. By applying a newly designed molecular networking routine, new citrinin-related metabolites induced by the fungal-bacterial cross-talk were unveiled in trace amounts. A mechanically cycled co-culture setup with external pumping forces accelerating the chemically interspecies communication was then developed to boost the production of cross-talk-induced metabolites. Multivariate data analysis combined with molecular networking revealed the accumulation of a pair of co-culture-induced molecules whose productions were positively correlated to the exchange rate in the new co-cultures, facilitating the discovery of the previously undescribed antibiotic citrinolide with a novel skeleton. This highly oxidized citrinin adduct showed significantly enhanced antibiotic property against the partner strain P. aeruginosa than its precursor citrinin, suggesting a role in the microbial competition. Thus, we propose competitive-advantage-oriented structural modification driven by microbial defence response mechanism in the interspecies cross-talk might be a promising approach in the search for novel antibiotics. Besides, this study highlights the utility of MS-based metabolomics as an effective tool in the direct biochemical analysis of the community metabolism.

Using the relative abundance of characteristic product ions in UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS2 methods to identify isomers of resveratrol oligomers in extracts of Xinjiang winegrape stems

Stilbenoids, particularly resveratrol and its oligomer, are abundantly present in grapes, and their antioxidant activities have been widely reported. A quick and simple method based on UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS² was established for the fragmentation pathways analysis of trans-ε-Viniferin, cis-ε-Viniferin, trans-δ-Viniferin and (-)-Hopeaphenol. MS/MS experiments on the [M-H]^- ions provided abundant structural information, especially regarding the relative abundance of the key product ion at m/z 347. The product ion was used to further identify structures in isomers of resveratrol dimers and its analogues. Based on the fragmentation pathways, we tentatively determined two compounds from the crude extracts of Xinjiang winegrape stems as Gnetin C and cis-Scirpusin A. Results from these experiments contribute to a more complete understanding of the stilbene compounds found in grape stems. The UHPLC-QTOF-MS² method can be used for the rapid analysis of stilbenes compounds in plant materials, foods and wine.

Characterization and Discrimination of Ancient Grains: A Metabolomics Approach

Hulled, or ancient, wheats were the earliest domesticated wheats by mankind and the ancestors of current wheats. Their cultivation drastically decreased during the 1960s; however, the increasing demand for a healthy and equilibrated diet led to rediscovering these grains. Our aim was to use a non-targeted metabolomic approach to discriminate and characterize similarities and differences between ancient Triticum varieties. For this purpose, 77 hulled wheat samples from three different varieties were collected: Garfagnana T. turgidum var. dicoccum L. (emmer), ID331 T. monococcum L. (einkorn) and Rouquin T. spelta L. (spelt). The ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF) metabolomics approach highlighted a pronounced sample clustering according to the wheat variety, with an excellent predictability (Q²), for all the models built. Fifteen metabolites were tentatively identified based on accurate masses, isotopic pattern, and product ion spectra. Among these, alkylresorcinols (ARs) were found to be significantly higher in spelt and emmer, showing different homologue composition. Furthermore, phosphatidylcholines (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPC) levels were higher in einkorn variety. The results obtained in this study confirmed the importance of ARs as markers to distinguish between Triticum species and revealed their values as cultivar markers, being not affected by the environmental influences.

Ab initio calculations on the 1O2 quenching mechanism by trans-resveratrol

Computational exploration of possible reaction mechanisms of trans-resveratrol with singlet molecular oxygen shows benzaldehydes as the most probable products.

Investigation of monomeric and oligomeric wine stilbenoids in red wines by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Stilbenoids are secondary plant metabolites responsible for the protection of multiple plant species including grape vine from bacterial and fungal infection. Red wine has been shown to be a major source of these compounds in the human diet, where they display an array of health benefits. Providing a more complete profile of the stilbenoids present in red wine, this study detects 41 stilbenoid compounds, 23 of which have never before been detected in red wine.

METHODS

Red wine extracts were scanned using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass analyzer. Multiple targeted MS/MS precursor ion scan experiments were performed using electrospray ionization operated in negative mode. Precursor ion masses were scanned for the monomeric and oligomeric stilbenoids, as well as modifications such as O-glycosylation, methoxylation and oxidation products of these compounds. Accurate mass precursor and characteristic product ions afforded partial structural elucidation and assignment of these compounds.

RESULTS

A total of 41 (both known and novel) stilbenoids were detected in extracted red wine. In addition to the well-known monomeric stilbenes, several resveratrol-resveratrol homodimers (m/z 453.1344), resveratrol-piceatannol heterodimers (m/z 469.1293) and piceatannol-piceatannol homodimers (m/z 485.1236) were detected. Modified dimers of resveratrol including O-glycosylated (m/z 615.1872), methoxylated (m/z 485.1606) and oxidized (m/z 471.1449) dimers were also detected. Multiple trimers of resveratrol (m/z 679.1978) were detected for the first time in red wine, as well as some known and some novel stilbenoid tetramers (m/z 905.2604).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, 41 stilbenoids were detected in red wine, 23 for the first time. Both monomeric and oligomeric stilbenoids were partially identified and assigned by their accurate mass precursor ions and characteristic stilbenoid fragmentation patterns. Knowledge gained from these experiments contributes to a more complete understanding of the origin of the beneficial properties of red wine.

Natural stilbenoids: distribution in the plant kingdom and chemotaxonomic interest in Vitaceae

Stilbenoids, a family of polyphenols known for the complexity of their structure and for their diverse biological activities, occur with a limited but heterogeneous distribution in the plant kingdom. The most prominent stilbene containing plant family, the Vitaceae, represented by the famous wine producing grape vines Vitis vinifera L., is one of the richest sources of novel stilbenes currently known, together with other families, such as Dipterocarpaceae, Gnetaceae and Fabaceae. This review focuses on the distribution of stilbenes and 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives in the plant kingdom, the chemical structure of stilbenes in the Vitaceae family and their taxonomic implication.

Screening and quantitative analysis of antioxidants in the fruits of Livistona chinensis R. Br using HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS coupled with pre-column DPPH assay

In this study, a high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS) with pre-column DPPH assay is developed for screening the antioxidant components in the fruits of Livistona chinensis R. Br. Accordingly, six antioxidative flavonoids are identified as orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside and tricin in methanolic extract of L. chinensis fruits, based on their mass spectra and fragmentation patterns. To the best of our knowledge, orientin, isoorientin, isovitexin and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside were found firstly in this plant. The free radical scavenging activity of the six antioxidants found is further examined by off-line DPPH assay. The results indicated that the free radical scavenging activity of orientin and isoorientin are stronger than those of two antioxidative drugs, vitamin C and baicalin. In addition, an HPLC-DAD method is firstly established for simultaneous determination of the six antioxidants in L. chinensis fruits. Tricin was found to be the major component in L. chinensis fruits.

Resveratrol and its oligomers from wine grapes are selective (1)O2 quenchers: mechanistic implication by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and theoretical calculation

Resveratrol and its oligomers, abundantly present in wine grapes, are believed to be effective phytoalexins for the phenomenon "French paradox" partially by virtue of their powerful antiradical properties. EPR spin-trapping technique was utilized, demonstrating all polyphenols were selective (1)O2 quenchers but not effective (•)OH and O2(•¯) scavengers. On the basis of the HPLC-ESI-MS(2) analysis for the simulated reactions of polyphenols with (1)O2, the molecular weights of the resulting photochemical products were 14 or 28 Da higher than those of their substrates. No fragment C2H2O (42 Da), which was rather distinctive of the resorcinol rings in these cases, had been observed, whereas their MS/MS spectra displayed characteristic neutral fragments including carbon monoxide (CO, 28 Da) and 2-hydroxy[1,4]benzoquinone (C6H4O3, 124 Da). Finally, PM3 semiempirical calculations and HR-FTICR-MS experiments were performed, supporting the assertion that their quenching mechanism involved physical and chemical pathways. Chemical quenching underwent an endoperoxide intermediate form to generate quinones.