A new software-assisted analytical workflow based on high-resolution mass spectrometry for the systematic study of phenolic compounds in complex matrices

Improved analysis of grape seed extract by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) reveals that proanthocyanidin-protein interaction mechanisms in cream depend on degree of polymerization

This study aimed to comprehensively characterize chemical profiles of proanthocyanidins (PACs) from grape seed extract (GSE), examine their interactions with proteins in a cream system, and define the mechanisms mediating PAC-protein interactions. GSE PACs were fractionated and characterized by thiolysis followed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis. New PACs with a degree of polymerization (DP) up to 16 were identified by improved HRMS data processing methods. In the model cream system, high-DP PACs exhibited greater precipitation capacity and protein binding than low-DP PACs. Low-DP PACs primarily engaged in hydrogen bonding, while high-DP PACs predominantly utilized multiple hydrophobic interaction sites to form cream protein aggregates. Furthermore, particle size and viscosity measurement of cream revealed a progressively DP-dependent increase in aggregated fat globules and cream viscosity. These findings enhanced our understanding of PACs' structural intricacies and highlighted their functional role as PAC-rich natural ingredients in creating structured cream systems.

Thermally induced changes in the profiles of phytocannabinoids and other bioactive compounds in Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences

Phytocannabinoids occurring in Cannabis Sativa L. are unique secondary metabolites possessing interesting pharmacological activities. In this study, the dynamics of thermally induced (60 and 120 °C) phytocannabinoid reactions in four cannabis varieties were investigated. Using UHPLC-HRMS/MS, 40 phytocannabinoids were involved in target analysis, and an additional 281 compounds with cannabinoid-like structures and 258 non-cannabinoid bioactive compounds were subjected to suspect screening. As expected, the key reaction was the decarboxylation of acidic phytocannabinoids. Nevertheless, the rate constants differed among cannabis varieties, documenting the matrix-dependence of this process. Besides neutral counterparts of acidic species, ́neẃ bioactive compounds such as hydroxyquinones were found in heated samples. In addition, changes in other bioactive compounds with both cannabinoid-like and non-cannabinoid structures were documented during cannabis heating at 120 °C. The data document the complexity of heat-induced processes and provide a further understanding of changes in bioactivities occurring under such conditions.

Study of Glycosidically Bound Volatile Precursors as Variety Markers to Reveal Not-Allowed Practices in White Wines Winemaking

Liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS) can provide identification of grape metabolites which are variety markers. White grapes are poorer in polyphenolics, and the main secondary metabolites which contribute the sensorial characteristics of wines are the glycosidically bound volatile precursors and their aglycones. The profiles of three white grape juices (Pinot grigio, Garganega, and Trebbiano) were characterized by LC/HRMS, and 70 signals of putative glycosidic terpenols, norisoprenoids, and benzenoids were identified. Four signals found only in Pinot grigio corresponded to a norisoprenoid hexose-hexose, 3-oxo-α-ionol (or 3-hydroxy-β-damascone) rhamnosyl-hexoside, monoterpene-diol hexosyl-pentosyl-hexoside, and hexose-norisoprenoid; three signals were found only in Garganega (putative isopropyl alcohol pentosyl-hexoside, phenylethanol rhamnosyl-hexoside, and norisoprenoid hexose-hexose isomers), and a monoterpenol pentosyl-hexoside isomer only in Trebbiano. These variety markers were then investigated in juice blends of the three varieties. This approach can be used to develop control methods to reveal not-allowed grape varieties and practices in white wines winemaking.

MATLAB language assisted data acquisition and processing in liquid chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry: Application to the identification and differentiation of Radix Bupleuri from its adulterants

Comprehensive and rapid analysis of secondary metabolites like saponins remains challenging. This study aimed to establish a semi-automated workflow for filtration, identification, and characterization of saikosaponins in six Bupleurum species. Radix Bupleuri, a high-sales herbal medicine, is often adulterated, restricting its quality control and applications. Two authentic Radix Bupleuri species and four major adulterants were analyzed through UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS for targeted saikosaponin analysis. To reveal trace saikosaponins and obtain quality fragment data, a MATLAB-based process automatically enumerating "sugar chain + aglycone + side chain" combinations and deduplicating generated a predicted saikosaponin database covering all possible saikosaponins as a precursor ion list for comprehensive targeted acquisition. To focus on informative ions and reduce MS analysis workload, we utilized MATLAB to automatically filtrate the false positive ions by MS1 and MS2 spectrometry. The newly established MATLAB-assisted data acquisition approach exhibited 50 % improvement in characterization of targeted saikosaponins. Furthermore, positive and negative ionization workflows were designed for accurate saikosaponins characterization based on fragmentation rules. In total, 707 saikosaponins were characterized, including over 500 potential new compounds and previously unreported C29 aglycones. We identified 25 saikosaponins present in both authentic species but absent in adulterants as potential markers. This unprecedented comprehensive multi-origin species differentiation demonstrates the promise of MATLAB-assisted acquisition and processing to advance saponin identification and standardize the Radix Bupleuri market.

Comparative Analysis of Agronomic Traits, Yield, and Effective Components of Main Cultivated Ganoderma Mushrooms (Agaricomycetes) in China

To assess the strain resources and address production challenges in Ganoderma cultivation. 150 Ganoderma strains were collected from 13 provinces in China. A comparative analysis of agronomic traits and effective components was conducted. Among the 150 strains, key agronomic traits measured were: average stipe diameter (15.92 mm), average stipe length (37.46 mm), average cap horizontal diameter (94.97 mm), average cap vertical diameter (64.21 mm), average cap thickness (15.22 mm), and average fruiting body weight (14.30 g). Based on these agronomic traits, four promising strains, namely, L08, L12, Z21, and Z39, were recommended for further cultivation and breeding. The average crude polysaccharide content ranged from 0.048% to 0.977%, and triterpenoids ranged from 0.804% to 2.010%. In addition, 73 triterpenoid compounds were identified, constituting 47.1% of the total compounds. Using a distance discrimination method, the types, and relative contents of triterpenoid compounds in 150 Ganoderma strains were classified, achieving 98% accuracy in G. lingzhi identification. The 16 triterpenoid components used for G. lingzhi identification included oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, 3β-acetoxyergosta-7,22-dien-5α-ol, ganoderic acid DM, ganoderiol B, ganorderol A, ganoderic acid GS-1, tsugaric acid A, ganoderic acid GS-2, ganoderenic acid D, ganoderic acid Mf, ganoderic acid A, ganoderic acid K, ganoderic acid V, ganoderic acid G, and leucocontextin J. This study provides valuable insights for exploring and utilizing Ganoderma resources and for the development of new varieties.

Identification of phenolic compounds from inflorescences of non-psychoactive Cannabis sativa L. by UHPLC-HRMS and in vitro assessment of the antiproliferative activity against colorectal cancer

Phenolic compounds from Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae family), in particular cannflavins, are known to possess several biological properties. However, their antiproliferative activity, being of great interest from a medicinal chemistry point of view, has not been deeply investigated so far in the literature. In the light of this, the aim of this study was to obtain an enriched fraction of polyphenols (namely PEF) from inflorescences of a non-psychoactive C. sativa (hemp) variety and to evaluate its antiproliferative activity against cancer cells, capitalizing on a new and selective extraction method for hemp polyphenols, followed by preparative flash column chromatography. Untargeted metabolomics, using a new method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), was applied here for the first time to fully characterize PEF. Then, the main phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-UV. The antiproliferative activity of PEF and of the isolated compounds was assessed in vitro for the first time against Caco-2 and SW480 human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines providing promising IC50 values, in comparison with the reference drug used in therapy for this cancer type. Based on these results, PEF can be considered as a new highly potential therapeutic product to be further investigated against colorectal cancer, thanks to the possible synergistic interaction of its compounds.

Comprehensive Evaluation System for Post-Metabolic Activity of Potential Thyroid-Disrupting Chemicals

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that disturb hormonal homeostasis by binding to receptors. EDCs are metabolized through hepatic enzymes, causing altered transcriptional activities of hormone receptors, and thus necessitating the exploration of the potential endocrine-disrupting activities of EDC-derived metabolites. Accordingly, we have developed an integrative workflow for evaluating the post-metabolic activity of potential hazardous compounds. The system facilitates the identification of metabolites that exert hormonal disruption through the integrative application of an MS/MS similarity network and predictive biotransformation based on known hepatic enzymatic reactions. As proof-of-concept, the transcriptional activities of 13 chemicals were evaluated by applying the in vitro metabolic module (S9 fraction). Identified among the tested chemicals were three thyroid hormone receptor (THR) agonistic compounds that showed increased transcriptional activities after phase I+II reactions (T3, 309.1 ± 17.3%; DITPA, 30.7 ± 1.8%; GC-1, 160.6 ± 8.6% to the corresponding parents). The metabolic profiles of these three compounds showed common biotransformation patterns, particularly in the phase II reactions (glucuronide conjugation, sulfation, GSH conjugation, and amino acid conjugation). Data-dependent exploration based on molecular network analysis of T3 profiles revealed that lipids and lipid-like molecules were the most enriched biotransformants. The subsequent subnetwork analysis proposed 14 additional features, including T4 in addition to 9 metabolized compounds that were annotated by prediction system based on possible hepatic enzymatic reaction. The other 10 THR agonistic negative compounds showed unique biotransformation patterns according to structural commonality, which corresponded to previous in vivo studies. Our evaluation system demonstrated highly predictive and accurate performance in determining the potential thyroid-disrupting activity of EDC-derived metabolites and for proposing novel biotransformants.

Untargeted cannabinomics reveals the chemical differentiation of industrial hemp based on the cultivar and the geographical field location

Cannabis sativa has long been harvested for industrial applications related to its fibers. Industrial hemp cultivars, a botanical class of Cannabis sativa with a low expression of intoxicating Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) have been selected for these purposes and scarcely investigated in terms of their content in bioactive compounds. Following the global relaxation in the market of industrial hemp-derived products, research in industrial hemp for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical purposes has surged. In this context, metabolomics-based approaches have proven to fulfill the aim of obtaining comprehensive information on the phytocompound profile of cannabis samples, going beyond the targeted evaluation of the major phytocannabinoids. In the present paper, an HRMS-based metabolomics study was addressed to seven distinct industrial hemp cultivars grown in four experimental fields in Northern, Southern, and Insular Italy. Since the role of minor phytocannabinoids as well as other phytocompounds was found to be critical in discriminating cannabis chemovars and in determining its biological activities, a comprehensive characterization of phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids was carried out by LC-HRMS and a dedicated data processing workflow following the guidelines of the metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium. A total of 54 phytocannabinoids, 134 flavonoids, and 77 phenolic acids were annotated, and their role in distinguishing hemp samples based on the geographical field location and cultivar was evaluated by ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis. Finally, a low-level fused model demonstrated the key role of untargeted cannabinomics extended to lesser-studied phytocompound classes for the discrimination of hemp samples.

Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench reduces body weight gain and modulates mood disorders via inhibition of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) by arzanol

The prevalence of obesity is steadily rising, making safe and more efficient anti-obesity treatments an urgent medical need. Growing evidence correlates obesity and comorbidities, including anxiety and depression, with the development of a low-grade inflammation in peripheral and central tissues. We hypothesized that attenuating neuroinflammation might reduce weight gain and improve mood. We investigated the efficacy of a methanolic extract from Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench (HSE), well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and its main constituent arzanol (AZL). HPLC-ESI-MS2 and HPLC-UV were used to characterize the extract. HSE effects on mood and feeding behavior was assessed in mice. The mechanism of action of HSE and AZL was investigated in hippocampus samples and SH-SY5Y cells by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Oral administration of HSE for 3 weeks limited weight gain with no significant decrease in food intake. HSE produced an anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like phenotype comparable to diazepam and amitriptyline, respectively, in the absence of locomotor and cognitive impairments and induced neuroprotective effects in glutamate-exposed SH-SY5Y cells. A dose-dependent reduction of SIRT1 expression was detected in SH-SY5Y cells and in hippocampal samples from HSE-treated mice. The inhibition of the SIRT1-FoxO1 pathway was induced in the hypothalamus. Molecular docking studies proposed a mechanism of SIRT1 inhibition by AZL, confirmed by the evaluation of inhibitory effects on SIRT1 enzymatic activity. HSE limited weight gain and comorbidities through an AZL-mediated SIRT1 inhibition. These activities indicate HSE an innovative therapeutic perspective for obesity and associated mood disorders.

The pivotal role of high-resolution mass spectrometry in the study of grape glycosidic volatile precursors for the selection of grapevines resistant to mildews

A breeding program to produce new grape varieties tolerant to main vine fungal pathogens (Plasmopara viticola and Erysiphe necator) is carrying out by crossing Vitis vinifera cv. "Glera" with resistant genotypes such as "Solaris," "Bronner," and "Kunleany." Firstly, resistance gene-based markers analyses allowed the identification of five genotypes, which have inherited the resistance loci against mildews. To select those that also inherited the phenotype as close as possible to 'Glera' suitable to be introduced in the Prosecco wine production protocols, the grape glycosidic derivatives were studied by UHPLC/QTOF mass spectrometry. Targeted identification of the metabolites was performed using a database expressly constructed by including the glycosidic volatile precursors previously identified in grape and wine. A total of 77 glycosidic derivatives including many aroma precursors and some variety markers, were identified. Original resistant genotypes had distinct metabolomic profiles and different to 'Glera', while the crossings showed varying similarity degrees to V. vinifera parent. Findings demonstrated the Glera × Bronner and Glera × Solaris crossings are more suitable to produce high-sustainable Prosecco wines. Coupling of glycosidic volatile precursors profiling to multivariate statistical analysis was effective for phenotypic characterization of grapes and to evaluate their enological potential.

Phytochemical analysis for ten Peruvian Mentheae (Lamiaceae) by liquid chromatography associated with high resolution mass spectrometry

The profile of secondary metabolites in ten members of tribe Mentheae (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) from Peru by liquid chromatography associated with high resolution mass spectrometry, is presented. Salvianolic acids and their precursors were found, particularly rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid ester derivatives, as well as a diversity of free and glycosylated flavonoids as main substances. At all, 111 structures were tentatively identified.

Development of magnetic dispersive micro-solid phase extraction of four phenolic compounds from food samples based on magnetic chitosan nanoparticles and a deep eutectic supramolecular solvent

A magnetic dispersive micro-solid phase extraction technique (CS@Fe₃O₄-MD-μSPE-DESP) based on magnetic chitosan nanoparticles and a deep eutectic supramolecular solvent was developed and applied to determinations of four phenolic compounds in food samples. To prevent environmental pollution and the introduction of toxic substances, deep eutectic supramolecular solvents (DESPs), which exhibited greater desorption capacities than conventional organic solvents and deep eutectic solvents, were used as novel green eluents for the first time. Some important parameters were screened by the Plackett-Burman method and then further optimized with response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimal conditions, the proposed method showed excellent methodological indices with linearity over the range 0.1-200.0 µg·mL^-1, R² > 0.9988, extraction recoveries above 94.8 %, and precision (RSD%) below 2.9 %. The established method finishes the process of adsorption and desorption in approximately 3 min and enhances the efficiency for determination of phenolic compounds.

Annotation and Identification of Phytochemicals from Eleusine indica Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Databases-Driven Approach

Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn is a perennial herb belonging to the Poaceae family. As the only species of Eleusine found abundantly in Malaysia, it is locally known as “rumput sambau” and has been traditionally used to treat various ailments including pain relief from vaginal bleeding, hastening the placenta delivery after childbirth, asthma, hemorrhoids, urinary infection, fever, and as a tonic for flu-related symptoms. A diverse array of biological activities have been reported for the plant, such as antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, and hepatoprotective action. Despite many reports on its traditional uses and biological activities, limited chemical databases are available for the plant. Thus, the aims of this study were to annotate and identify the phytochemical constituents in the methanolic extract of E. indica through tandem LCMS-based analysis techniques using MZmine, GNPS, Compound Discoverer, and SIRIUS platforms. This technique managed to identify a total of 65 phytochemicals in the extract, comprising primary and secondary metabolites, and was verified by the isolation of one of the identified phytochemicals. The structural elucidation mainly using 1D and 2D NMR as well as comparison with values in the literature confirms the isolated phytochemical to be a 3-OH anomer of loliolide, a benzofuran-type of compound, which consequently increases the level of confidence in the applied technique. The research describes a useful method for the fast and simultaneous identification of phytochemicals in E. indica, contributing to the study of the chemical properties of the genus and family.

Metabolomic profiling of different clones of vitis vinifera L. cv. "Glera" and "Glera lunga" grapes by high-resolution mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Prosecco wine production has been strongly extended in the last decade and several new clones have been introduced. "Glera" (minimum 85%) and "Glera lunga" are grape varieties of great economic impact used to produce Prosecco wines. Study of grape berry secondary metabolites is effective in the classification of vine varieties and clones. High-resolution mass spectrometry provides complete panorama of these metabolites in single analysis and coupling to statistical multivariate analysis is successfully applied in vine chemotaxonomy.

OBJECTIVES

update and deepen the knowledge on the "Glera" and "Glera lunga" berry grapes chemotaxonomy and investigate some of the most produced and marketed clones by using the modern analytical and statistical tools.

METHODS

five clones of "Glera" and two of "Glera lunga" grown in the same vineyard with same agronomical practices were studied for three vintages. Grape berry metabolomics was characterized by UHPLC/QTOF and multivariate statistical analysis was performed on the signals of main metabolites of oenological interest.

RESULTS

"Glera" and "Glera lunga" showed different monoterpene profiles ("Glera" is richer in glycosidic linalool and nerol) and differences in polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins, trans-feruloyltartaric acid, E-ε-viniferin, isorhamnetin-glucoside, quercetin galactoside). Vintage affected the accumulation of these metabolites in berry. No statistical differentiation among the clones of each variety, was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Coupling HRMS metabolomics/statistical multivariate analysis enabled clear differentiation between the two varieties. The examined clones of same variety showed similar metabolomic profiles and enological characteristics, but vineyard planting using different clones can result in more consistent final wines reducing the vintage variability linked to genotype × environment interaction.

Nontargeted Screening for Flavonoids in Salicornia Plant by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Orbitrap Data-Dependent MS2/MS3

The Salicornia genus has great potential in agrifood industries because of its nutritional benefits related to its high content of antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids. A nontargeted method based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography–electrospray orbitrap data-dependent MS2/MS3 and the fragment ion search (FISh) strategy was developed to screen flavonoids in Salicornia plants. An extensive study of fragmentation of a set of flavonoid standards allowed for the definition of 15 characteristic fragment ions for flagging flavonoids in the plant matrix. The nontargeted analysis was applied to Salicornia europaea species and allowed for the annotation of 25 candidate flavonoids, including 14 that had not been reported previously. Structural prediction of two unreported flavonoids and their isomeric forms was based on an advanced data processing method using an in silico approach and in-house databases compiling flavonoid-specific chemical substitution. Finally, the method developed allowed for the optimization of extraction yields of flavonoids from the plant matrix.

Evaluation of the carotenoid and fat-soluble vitamin profile of industrial hemp inflorescence by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and photodiode-array detection

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a plant matrix whose use is recently spreading for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical purposes. Detailed characterization of hemp composition is needed for future research that further exploits the beneficial effects of hemp compounds on human health. Among minor constituents, carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins have largely been neglected to date despite carrying out several biological activities and regulatory functions. In the present paper, 22 target carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins were analyzed in the inflorescences of seven Italian industrial hemp varieties cultivated outdoor. The analytes were extracted by cold saponification to avoid artifacts and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. Phytoene, phytofluene, and all-trans-β-carotene were the most abundant in all analyzed samples (31-55 µg g^-1, 11.6-29 µg g^-1, and 7.3-53 µg g^-1, respectively). Besides the target analytes, liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode-array detection allowed us to tentatively identify several other carotenoids based on their retention behavior and UV-vis spectra with the support of theoretical rules and data in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive characterization of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in industrial hemp inflorescence.

Integration of the Microbiome, Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveals Escherichia coli F17 Susceptibility of Sheep

Escherichia coli (E. coli) F17 is one of the most common pathogens causing diarrhea in farm livestock. In the previous study, we accessed the transcriptomic and microbiomic profile of E. coli F17-antagonism (AN) and -sensitive (SE) lambs; however, the biological mechanism underlying E. coli F17 infection has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study first analyzed the metabolite data obtained with UHPLC-MS/MS. A total of 1957 metabolites were profiled in the present study, and 11 differential metabolites were identified between E. coli F17 AN and SE lambs (i.e., FAHFAs and propionylcarnitine). Functional enrichment analyses showed that most of the identified metabolites were related to the lipid metabolism. Then, we presented a machine-learning approach (Random Forest) to integrate the microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome data, which identified subsets of potential biomarkers for E. coli F17 infection (i.e., GlcADG 18:0-18:2, ethylmalonic acid and FBLIM1); furthermore, the PCCs were calculated and the interaction network was constructed to gain insight into the crosstalk between the genes, metabolites and bacteria in E. coli F17 AN/SE lambs. By combing classic statistical approaches and a machine-learning approach, our results revealed subsets of metabolites, genes and bacteria that could be potentially developed as candidate biomarkers for E. coli F17 infection in lambs.

The chemotype core collection of genus Nicotiana

Sustainable production of chemicals and improving these biosources by engineering metabolic pathways to create efficient plant-based biofactories relies on the knowledge of available chemical/biosynthetic diversity present in the plant. Nicotiana species are well known for their amenability towards transformation and other new plant breeding techniques. The genus Nicotiana is primarily known through Nicotiana tabacum L., the source of tobacco leaves and all respective tobacco products. Due to the prevalence of the latter, N. tabacum and related Nicotiana species are one of the most extensively studied plants. The majority of studies focused solely on N. tabacum or other individual species for chemotyping. The present study analysed a diversity panel including 17 Nicotiana species and six accessions of Nicotiana benthamiana and created a data set that effectively represents the chemotype core collection of the genus Nicotiana. The utilisation of several analytical platforms and previously published libraries/databases enabled the identification and measurement of over 360 metabolites of a wide range of chemical classes as well as thousands of unknowns with dedicated spectral and chromatographic properties.

Detailed investigation of the composition and transformations of phenolic compounds in fresh and fermented Vaccinium floribundum berry extracts by high-resolution mass spectrometry and bioinformatics

INTRODUCTION

Blueberries are known for their very high content of biologically active phenolic compounds; nonetheless, differently from the North American and European species of blueberries, Neotropical blueberries have not been extensively studied yet.

OBJECTIVES

In the present paper, the phenolic composition of Vaccinium floribundum Kunth, which is endemic to the Andean regions and grows 1,600 to 4,500 meters above sea level, was investigated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Native and fermented berries were compared in terms of phenolic composition as well as antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and total anthocyanin content.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

V. floribundum native and fermented berries were extracted and analyzed by UHPLC-HRMS. The acquired datasets were processed by Compound Discoverer 3.1 using a dedicated data analysis workflow that was specifically set up for phenolic compound identification.

RESULTS

In total, 309 compounds were tentatively identified, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins. The molecular transformations of phenolic compounds during fermentation were comprehensively investigated for the first time, and by a customized data processing workflow, 13 quinones and quinone methides were tentatively identified in the fermented samples. Compared to other species of the genus Vaccinium, a peculiar phenolic profile is observed, with low abundance of highly methylated compounds.

CONCLUSION

Andean berries are a rich source of a wide variety of phenolic compounds. Untargeted MS analyses coupled to a dedicated data processing workflow allowed expanding the current knowledge on these berries, improving our understanding of the fate of phenolic compounds after fermentation.

A strategy integrating parent ions list-modified mass defect filtering-diagnostic product ions for rapid screening and systematic characterization of flavonoids in Scutellaria barbata using hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry

In this study, full scan (FS)-parent ions list (PIL)-higher energy collision induced dissociation (HCD)-MS/MS (FS-PIL-HCD-MS/MS) was used to acquire the chemical profile of flavonoids in Scutellaria barbata. Mass defect filtering (MDF) induced subtype classification and diagnostic product ions (DPIs) dominated structural confirmation were integrated into an effective strategy for the systematic screening and identification of the flavonoids. An in-house flavonoid MS database based on molecular design was established to construct a modified triangle MDF algorithm for progressive screening and subtype classification. The obtained results demonstrated that the modified MDF was capable of simplifying the workload in formula editing and subsequent screening process, and distinguishing different subtypes. The fragmentation behaviors of eleven reference standards were evaluated to obtain the MS² fragmentation pathway and DPIs which can provide a criterion to eliminate false-positive results and judge the target flavonoids with the exact number and position of substituents for the first time. Structure confirmation was characterized by comparing with the reference substance, searching the database, and analyzing DPIs. To distinguish some isomers, ClogP (the calculated lipophilicity parameter) was adopted. As a result, 127 target flavonoids, including 30 flavone/flavonol aglycones, 10 flavanone/flavanonol aglycones, 49 flavone/flavonol monoglycosides, 16 flavanone/flavanonol monoglycosides, 21 flavone/flavonol diglycosides and 1 flavanone/flavanonol diglycoside, were ultimately identified or tentatively characterized based on the MS fragmentation pathway and DPIs analysis. This study provides a novel MDF method with improved subtype classification and develops a novel strategy for the progressive screening, subtype classification and systematic characterization of complex components in herbal medicines.

Software Assisted Multi-Tiered Mass Spectrometry Identification of Compounds in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Dalbergia odorifera as an Example

The complexity of metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hinders the comprehensive profiling and accurate identification of metabolites. In this study, an approach that integrates enhanced column separation, mass spectrometry post-processing and result verification was proposed and applied in the identification of flavonoids in Dalbergia odorifera. Firstly, column chromatography fractionation, followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used for systematic separation and detection. Secondly, a three-level data post-processing method was applied to the identification of flavonoids. Finally, fragmentation rules were used to verify the flavonoid compounds. As a result, a total of 197 flavonoids were characterized in D. odorifera, among which seven compounds were unambiguously identified in level 1, 80 compounds were tentatively identified by MS-DIAL and Compound Discoverer in level 2a, 95 compounds were annotated by Compound discoverer and Peogenesis QI in level 2b, and 15 compounds were exclusively annotated by using SIRIUS software in level 3. This study provides an approach for the rapid and efficient identification of the majority of components in herbal medicines.

Fully Automatized Detection of Phosphocholine-Containing Lipids through an Isotopically Labeled Buffer Modification Workflow

High-resolution mass spectrometry is the foremost technique for qualitative and quantitative lipidomics analyses. Glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids, collectively termed polar lipids, are commonly investigated by hyphenated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques that reduce aggregation effects and provide a greater dynamic range of detection sensitivity compared to shotgun lipidomics. However, automatic polar lipid identification is hindered by several isobaric and isomer mass overlaps, which cause software programs to often fail to correctly annotate the lipid species. In the present paper, a buffer modification workflow based on the use of labeled and unlabeled acetate ions in the chromatographic buffers was optimized by Box-Behnken design of the experiments and applied to the characterization of phosphocholine-containing lipids in human plasma samples. The contemporary generation of [M + CH₃COO]^-, [M + CD₃COO]^-, and [M - CH₃]^- coupled with a dedicated data processing workflow, which was specifically set up on Compound Discoverer software, allowed us to correctly determine adduct composition, molecular formulas, and grouping, as well as granting a lower false-positive rate and streamlining the manual validation step compared to commonly employed lipidomics platforms. The proposed workflow represents a robust yet easier alternative to the existing approaches for improving lipid annotation, as it does not require extensive sample pretreatment or prior isotopic enrichment or derivatization.

Characterization of the Trans-Epithelial Transport of Green Tea (C. sinensis) Catechin Extracts with In Vitro Inhibitory Effect against the SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease Activity

This work describes an untargeted analytical approach for the screening, identification, and characterization of the trans-epithelial transport of green tea (Camellia sinensis) catechin extracts with in vitro inhibitory effect against the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) activity. After specific catechin extraction, a chromatographic separation obtained six fractions were carried out. The fractions were assessed in vitro against the PLpro target. Fraction 5 showed the highest inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro (IC₅₀ of 0.125 μg mL^-1). The untargeted characterization revealed that (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) was the most abundant compound in the fraction and the primary molecule absorbed by differentiated Caco-2 cells. Results indicated that fraction 5 was approximately 10 times more active than ECG (IC₅₀ value equal to 11.62 ± 0.47 μg mL^-1) to inhibit the PLpro target. Overall, our findings highlight the synergistic effects of the various components of the crude extract compared to isolated ECG.

Non-targeted screening of pyranosides in Rhodiola crenulata using an all ion fragmentation-exact neutral loss strategy combined with liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Pyranosides as one kind of natural glycosides contain a pyran ring linked to an aglycone in the structure. They occur widely in plants and possess diverse biological activities. The discovery of new pyranosides not only contributes to research on natural products but also may promote pharmaceutical development.

OBJECTIVES

A non-targeted liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method coupled with an all ion fragmentation-exact neutral loss (AIF-ENL) strategy was developed for the screening of pyranosides in plants.

METHODS

Pyranosides in various types were collected as a model. The AIF-ENL strategy comprised three steps: AIF spectrum acquisition and generation, ENL-based searching and identification, and confirmation of structural type using target second-stage mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The strategy was systematically evaluated based on the matrix effects, fragmentation stability, scan rate and screening efficiency and finally applied to Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. f. et Thoms) H. Ohba.

RESULTS

The method was proved to be an efficient tool for the screening of pyranosides. When it was applied to R. crenulata, a total of 24 pyranoside candidates were detected. Among them, six were tentatively identified on the basis of the agreement of their elemental composition with the reported. The other 18 were detected in R. crenulata for the first time.

CONCLUSION

The method offers a new platform for discovering pyranosides. In addition, the developed non-targeted strategy can also be used for other natural products, such as flavonoids and coumarins, as long as there is a common fragmentation behaviour in their MS/MS to generate characteristic neutral losses or fragments.

Recent applications of mass spectrometry for the characterization of cannabis and hemp phytocannabinoids: From targeted to untargeted analysis

This review is a collection of recent applications of mass spectrometry studies for the characterization of phytocannabinoids in cannabis and hemp plant material and related products. The focus is mostly on recent applications using mass spectrometry as detector, in hyphenation to typical separation techniques (i.e., liquid chromatography or gas chromatography), but also with less common couplings or by simple direct analysis. The papers are described starting from the most common approach for targeted quantitative analysis, with applications using low-resolution mass spectrometry equipment, but also with the introduction of high-resolution mass analyzers as the detectors. This reflects a common trend in this field, and introduces the most recent applications using high-resolution mass spectrometry for untargeted analysis. The different approaches used for untargeted analysis are then described, from simple retrospective analysis of compounds without pure standards, through untargeted metabolomics strategies, and suspect screening methods, which are the ones currently allowing to achieve the most detailed qualitative characterization of the entire phytocannabinoid composition, including minor compounds which are usually overlooked in targeted studies and in potency evaluation. These approaches also represent powerful strategies to answer questions on biological and pharmacological activity of cannabis, and provide a sound technology for improved classification of cannabis varieties. Finally, open challenges are discussed for future directions in the detailed study of complex phytocannabinoid mixtures.

Rapid screening and characterization of glucosinolates in 25 Brassicaceae tissues by UHPLC-Q-exactive orbitrap-MS

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are secondary plant metabolites that occur mainly in the Brassicaceae plants, which are desirable compounds in human foods due to their diverse biological activities. In this study, we developed an integrated data filtering and identification strategy to characterize the GSLs. An in-depth GSLs profiling was performed on 25 commonly Brassicaceae tissues in Jinan, China. By comparison with the reference standards and previous researches, we tentatively identified 47 GSLs including 8 unknown ones. The GSLs profiles of 25 Brassicaceae tissues were established, and 11 markers of GSLs could be used to distinguish the Brassica and Raphanus. This approach enables accurately characterization the GSLs of Brassicaceae tissues, and demonstrates the potential of GSLs profiles for Brassicaceae species discrimination.

Accelerated chromate reduction by tea waste: Comparison of chromate reduction properties between water and ice systems

The concentration of chromium (Cr) in natural water and soil environments has gradually increased in recent decades, owing to intensive use of Cr in industry and its subsequent disposal. In this study, we performed a comparison study on chromate (Cr⁶⁺) reduction by tea waste (green tea, black tea, red tea, and chamomile) in water (25 ^°C) and ice (-20 ^°C) to develop a new strategy for environmental-friendly stabilization of hazardous Cr⁶⁺ by freezing. This study shows that the freezing process can enhance the reduction of Cr⁶⁺ by tea waste. The residual Cr⁶⁺ concentration ratios (C/C₀, where C is the concentration of Cr⁶⁺ after the reaction (5 h) and C₀ is the initial concentration of Cr⁶⁺ (20 μM) in the system) by tea wastes in water were in the range of 0.71 (green tea) to 0.92 (chamomile); however, the ratios dramatically decreased under the freezing process (i.e., 0.06 by green tea, 0.13 by black tea, 0.18 by red tea, and 0.08 by chamomile). According to the results obtained from the fluorescent, chromatographic, and spectroscopic analyses, under the freezing process, the enhanced reduction of Cr⁶⁺ could be explained by the freeze concentration of Cr⁶⁺, phenolic components in tea extracts, and protons in small liquid pockets in liquid-like layers (LLLs). In addition, the proposed system can efficiently purify the real Cr⁶⁺-containing wastewater (i.e., electroplating wastewater), indicating that the system will be economically feasible in cold regions (i.e., polar regions).

Andean Blueberry of the Genus Disterigma: A High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Approach for the Comprehensive Characterization of Phenolic Compounds

Wild neotropical blueberries, endemic of Central and South American areas, are promising yet still undisclosed sources of bioactive compounds. Most research studies have addressed wild and cultivated blueberries from Europe and North America, despite the extremely wide variety of wild neotropical species. In the present paper, for the first time, the phenolic composition of Disterigma alaternoides was investigated through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass-spectrometric analysis followed by accurate data analysis and compound validation with a dedicated structure-based workflow. D. alaternoides, which belongs to a closely related genus to that of the common blueberry, grows exclusively in the Andean regions over 2000 above sea level. Thanks to the dedicated analytical platform, 249 phenolic compounds were tentatively identified, including several anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins. Thenature and heterogeneity of identified phenolic compounds demonstrate once more the need for a more profound knowledge of such still uncharted matrices.

In-depth cannabis fatty acid profiling by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) represents an important plant, used for a variety of uses including pharmaceutical and nutraceutical purposes. As such, a detailed characterization of the composition of this plant could help future research to further exploit the beneficial effects of hemp compounds on the human health. Among the many compounds of hemp, fatty acids represent an interesting class of minor components, which has been overlooked so far. In this work, an untargeted approach based on liquid-chromatography coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometry and a dedicated structure-based workflow for raw data interpretation was employed for the characterization of fatty acids from hemp inflorescences. A simple method, without any chemical derivatization, was developed for extraction and characterization of fatty acids leading to the tentative identification of 39 fatty acid species in the five hemp samples. A quantitative analysis on the untargeted data was initially performed, using peak areas as surrogate of analyte abundance for relative quantitation. Five fatty acids resulted the most abundant in all hemp samples, with ca. 90% of the total peak area. For these compounds a targeted quantitative method was validated, indicating that the most abundant ones were linolenic acid (1.39-7.95 mg g-1) and linoleic acid (1.04-7.87 mg g-1), followed by palmitic acid (3.74-6.08 mg g-1), oleic acid (0.91-4.73 mg g-1) and stearic acid (0.64-2.25 mg g-1).

A Review of Hemp as Food and Nutritional Supplement

The term "hemp" refers to Cannabis sativa cultivars grown for industrial purposes that are characterized by lower levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active principle responsible for Cannabis psychotropic effects. Hemp is an extraordinary crop, with enormous social and economic value, since it can be used to produce food, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paper, paint, biofuel, and animal feed, as well as lighting oil. Various parts of the hemp plant represent a valuable source of food and ingredients for nutritional supplements. While hemp inflorescence is rich in nonpsychoactive, yet biologically active cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), which exerts potent anxiolytic, spasmolytic, as well as anticonvulsant effects, hempseed has a pleasant nutty taste and represents a valuable source of essential amino acids and fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and fibers. In addition, hempseed oil is a source of healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids, and hemp sprouts are rich in antioxidants. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive outlook from a multidisciplinary perspective on the scientific evidence supporting hemp beneficial properties when consumed as food or supplement. Marketing of hemp-derived products is subjected to diversified and complex regulations worldwide for several reasons, including the fact that CBD is also the active principal of pharmaceutical agents and that regulatory bodies in some cases ban Cannabis inflorescence regardless of its THC content. Some key regulatory aspects of such a complex scenario are also analyzed and discussed in this review article.

Untargeted Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Chemical Complexity of Dioecious Cannabis Flowers

Cannabis is a mostly dioecious multi-use flowering plant genus. Sexual dimorphism is an important characteristic in Cannabis-based commercial production systems, which has consequences for fibre, seed, and the yield of secondary metabolites, such as phytocannabinoid and terpenes for therapeutic uses. Beyond the obvious morphological differences between male and female plants, metabolic variation among dioecious flowers is largely undefined. Here, we report a pilot metabolomic study comparing staminate (male) and pistillate (female) unisexual flowers. Enrichment of the α-linolenic acid pathway and consensus evaluation of the jasmonic acid (JA) related compound 12-oxo-phytodienoicacid (OPDA) among differentially abundant metabolites suggests that oxylipin signalling is associated with secondary metabolism and sex expression in female flowers. Several putative phytocannabinoid-like compounds were observed to be upregulated in female flowers, but full identification was not possible due to the limitation of available databases. Targeted analysis of 14 phytocannabinoids using certified reference standards (cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Δ9-THCAA), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinolic acid (CBNA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)) showed a higher total phytocannabinoid content in female flowers compared with the male flowers, as expected. In summary, the development of a phytocannabinoid-specific accurate-mass MSn fragmentation spectral library and gene pool representative metabolome has the potential to improve small molecule compound annotation and accelerate understanding of metabolic variation underlying phenotypic diversity in Cannabis.

Identification of a new cannabidiol n-hexyl homolog in a medicinal cannabis variety with an antinociceptive activity in mice: cannabidihexol

The two most important and studied phytocannabinoids present in Cannabis sativa L. are undoubtedly cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic compound, but with other pharmacological properties, and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), which instead possesses psychotropic activity and is responsible for the recreative use of hemp. Recently, the homolog series of both CBDs and THCs has been expanded by the isolation in a medicinal cannabis variety of four new phytocannabinoids possessing on the resorcinyl moiety a butyl-(in CBDB and Δ⁹-THCB) and a heptyl-(in CBDP and Δ⁹-THCP) aliphatic chain. In this work we report a new series of phytocannabinoids that fills the gap between the pentyl and heptyl homologs of CBD and Δ⁹-THC, bearing a n-hexyl side chain on the resorcinyl moiety that we named cannabidihexol (CBDH) and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabihexol (Δ⁹-THCH), respectively. However, some cannabinoids with the same molecular formula and molecular weight of CBDH and Δ⁹-THCH have been already identified and reported as monomethyl ether derivatives of the canonical phytocannabinoids, namely cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM), cannabidiol monomethyl ether (CBDM) and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol monomethyl ether (Δ9-THCM). The unambiguously identification in cannabis extract of the n-hexyl homologues of CBD and Δ⁹-THC different from the corresponding methylated isomers (CBDM, CBGM and Δ⁹-THCM) was achieved by comparison of the retention time, molecular ion, and fragmentation spectra with those of the authentic standards obtained via stereoselective synthesis, and a semi-quantification of these cannabinoids in the FM2 medical cannabis variety was provided. Conversely, no trace of Δ⁹-THCM was detected. Moreover, CBDH was isolated by semipreparative HPLC and its identity was confirmed by comparison with the spectroscopic data of the corresponding synthetic standard. Thus, the proper recognition of CBDH, CBDM and Δ⁹-THCH closes the loop and might serve in the future for researchers to distinguish between these phytocannabinoids isomers that show a very similar analytical behaviour. Lastly, CBDH was assessed for biological tests in vivo showing interesting analgesic activity at low doses in mice.

It Is Our Turn to Get Cannabis High: Put Cannabinoids in Food and Health Baskets

Cannabis is an annual plant with a long history of use as food, feed, fiber, oil, medicine, and narcotics. Despite realizing its true value, it has not yet found its true place. Cannabis has had a long history with many ups and downs, and now it is our turn to promote it. Cannabis contains approximately 600 identified and many yet unidentified potentially useful compounds. Cannabinoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and alkaloids are some of the secondary metabolites present in cannabis. However, among a plethora of unique chemical compounds found in this plant, the most important ones are phytocannabinoids (PCs). Over hundreds of 21-22-carbon compounds exclusively produce in cannabis glandular hairs through either polyketide and or deoxyxylulose phosphate/methylerythritol phosphate (DOXP/MEP) pathways. Trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are those that first come to mind while talking about cannabis. Nevertheless, despite the low concentration, cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabinodiol (CBND), and cannabinidiol (CBDL) may have potentially some medical effects. PCs and endocannabinoids (ECs) mediate their effects mainly through CB1 and CB2 receptors. Despite all concerns regarding cannabis, nobody can ignore the use of cannabinoids as promising tonic, analgesic, antipyretic, antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anticancer agents, which are effective for pain relief, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, nausea and vomiting, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, and appetite stimulation. The scientific community and public society have now increasingly accepted cannabis specifically hemp as much more than a recreational drug. There are growing demands for cannabinoids, mainly CBD, with many diverse therapeutic and nutritional properties in veterinary or human medicine. The main objective of this review article is to historically summarize findings concerning cannabinoids, mainly THC and CBD, towards putting these valuable compounds into food, feed and health baskets and current and future trends in the consumption of products derived from cannabis.

Integrated Functional Omics Analysis of Flavonoid-Related Metabolism in AtMYB12 Transcript Factor Overexpressed Tomato

Genetic engineering (GE) technology is widely used in plant modification. However, the results of modification may not exactly meet the expectations. Herein, we propose a new multi-omics method for GE plant evaluation based on the optimized use of the metID algorithm. Using this method, we found that flavonoid accumulation was at the expense of the great sacrifice of l-phenylalanine in GE tomatoes for the first time. Meanwhile, the ceramide series of sphingolipid is synthesized de novo from l-serine, and ceramides are the primary source of vesicles coated with flavonoids and secreted from the endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, the accumulation of the ceramide series of sphingolipid changed the cell component of intracellular organelles. Furthermore, the improvement of the method allows us to identify more metabolites related to dysregulated pathways.

A new opening for the tricky untargeted investigation of natural and modified short peptides

Short peptides are of extreme interest in clinical and food research fields, nevertheless they still represent a crucial analytical issue. The main aim of this paper was the development of an analytical platform for a considerable advancement in short peptides identification. For the first time, short sequences presenting both natural and post-translationally modified amino acids were comprehensively studied thanks to the generation of specific databases. Short peptide databases had a dual purpose. First, they were employed as inclusion lists for a suspect screening mass-spectrometric analysis, overcoming the limits of data dependent acquisition mode and allowing the fragmentation of such low-abundance substances. Moreover, the databases were implemented in Compound Discoverer 3.0, a software dedicated to the analysis of short molecules, for the creation of a data processing workflow specifically dedicated to short peptide tentative identification. For this purpose, a detailed study of short peptide fragmentation pathways was carried out for the first time. The proposed method was applied to the study of short peptide sequences in enriched urine samples and led to the tentative identification more than 200 short natural and modified short peptides, the highest number ever reported.

Untargeted Characterization of Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) Shell Polyphenol Extract: A Valued Bioresource for Prostate Cancer Cell Growth Inhibition

Chestnut seeds are used for fresh consumption and for the industrial preparation of derivatives, such as chestnut flour. During industrial processing, large amounts of by-products are generally produced, such as leaves, flowers, shells and burs. In the present study, chestnut shells were extracted by boiling water in order to obtain polyphenol-rich extracts. Moreover, for the removal or non-phenolic compounds, a separation by preparative reverse phase chromatography in ten fractions was carried out. The richest fractions in terms of phenolic content were characterized by means of untargeted high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis together with a dedicated and customized data processing workflow. A total of 243 flavonoids, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins and ellagitannins were tentatively identified in the five richest fractions. Due its high phenolic content (450.03 µg GAE per mg of fraction), one tumor cell line (DU 145) and one normal prostate epithelial cell line (PNT2) were exposed to increasing concentration of fraction 3 dry extract for 24, 48 and 72 h. Moreover, for DU 145 cell lines, increase of apoptotic cells and perturbation of cell cycle was demonstrated for the same extract. Those outcomes suggest that chestnut industrial by-products could be potentially employed as a source of bioresources.

Citrus × Clementina Hort. Juice Enriched with Its By-Products (Peels and Leaves): Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioactivity, and Impact of Processing

This work investigated a model for the reuse of Citrus × clementina Hort. by-products for the development of a functional drink able to exert antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, and hypolipidemic effects. Juice obtained from fruits collected in three different areas of Calabria (Italy) was analysed. C. × clementina juice from Corigliano Calabro (JF), characterized by the highest content of bioactive compounds and bioactivity, was chosen as a matrix to be enrichment with hydroalcoholic ultrasound-assisted maceration of C. × clementina leaf from Corigliano Calabro (CO2) and ethanol ultrasound-assisted maceration of C. × clementina peel from Cetraro (BC3) extracts at different concentrations. The highest phytochemical content and bioactivities were found in juice enriched with leaf and leaf + peel extracts, with particular reference to antioxidant activity. In order to estimate the effects of pasteurization, 20% (mg/100 mL) enriched juice was subjected to this process. Based on obtained data of bioactivity and sensorial analysis, C. × clementina by-products could be proposed as a promising source of bioactive compounds useful for the formulation of a functional drink for preventing diseases associated with oxidative stress such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Profiling of quercetin glycosides and acyl glycosides in sun-dried peperoni di Senise peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) by a combination of LC-ESI(-)-MS/MS and polarity prediction in reversed-phase separations

Interest in targeted profiling of quercetin glycoconjugates occurring in edible foodstuffs continues to expand because of their recognized beneficial health effects. Quercetin derivatives encompass several thousands of chemically distinguishable compounds, among which there are several compounds with different glycosylations and acylations. Since reference standards and dedicated databases are not available, the mass spectrometric identification of quercetin glycoconjugates is challenging. A targeted liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was applied for screening quercetin glycoconjugates in edible peperoni di Senise peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), protected by the European Union with the mark PGI (i.e., Protected Geographical Indication), and cultivated in Basilicata (Southern Italy). Chromatographic separation was accomplished by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) using water/acetonitrile as the mobile phase and detection was performed on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer fitted with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operating in negative ion mode. A correlation between experimental RP chromatographic retention time and those predicted by partition coefficients (log P) along with MS/MS data and an in-house developed database (named QUEdb) provided deep coverage for sixteen quercetin glycoconjugates. Among them, eleven quercetin glycoconjugates were already described in the literature and five were reported for the first time. These last acyl glycosidic quercetin derivatives were tentatively identified as quercetin-(galloyl-rhamnoside)-hexoside, [C₃₄H₃₃O₂₀]^- at m/z 761.1; quercetin-(sinapoyl-hexoside)-rhamnoside, [C₃₈H₃₉O₂₀]^- at m/z 815.4; quercetin-(galloyl-caffeoyl-hexoside)-rhamnoside, [C₄₃H₃₉O₂₃]^- at m/z 923.0; quercetin-(feruloyl-hexoside)-rhamnoside, [C₃₇H₃₇O₁₉]^- at m/z 785.1; and quercetin-(succinyl-rhamnoside)-rhamnoside, [C₃₁H₃₃O₁₈]^- at m/z 693.1. Graphical abstract.

Food Applications and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate and its Derivatives

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an ancient fruit that is particularly cultivated in west Asia, though it is also cultivated in the Mediterranean region and other parts of the world. Since ancient years, its consumption has been associated with numerous health benefits. In recent years, several in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed its beneficial physiological activities, especially its antioxidative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, human-based studies have shown promising results and have indicated pomegranate potential as a protective agent of several diseases. Following that trend and the food industry's demand for antioxidants and antimicrobials from natural sources, the application of pomegranate and its extracts (mainly as antioxidants and antimicrobials), has been studied extensively in different types of food products with satisfactory results. This review aims to present all the recent studies and trends in the applications of pomegranate in the food industry and how these trends have affected product's physicochemical characteristics and shelf-life. In addition, recent in vitro and in vivo studies are presented in order to reveal pomegranate's potential in the treatment of several diseases.