Preparation and Validated Analysis of Anthocyanin Concentrate from the Calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa

Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces have been shown to have various medicinal properties, some of which have been reported to be due to anthocyanins present in the calyces. To study whether these claims are valid, it is necessary to produce an extract with a high anthocyanin content and to have available a method to identify and quantify the individual compounds in the product. A method of extraction and purification has been developed based on a polyamide column chromatographic purification step. Using this method, anthocyanin concentrates were produced containing from 57 to 64% of delphinidin-3-sambubioside plus cyanidin-3-sambubioside. A rapid, efficient and validated HPLC analytical method was developed and used for the analysis of the anthocyanin concentrate.

Anthocyanins of Hibiscus sabdiffera Calyces from Sudan

Extracts of the calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa are widely used in folk medicine to combat many illnesses. The active constituents of the extracts have been shown on several occasions to be anthocyanins. In our current studies the biological activities of an extract of H. sabdariffa calyces purchased in Oman, but grown in Sudan, are being compared with those of the anthocyanins isolated from them, and, for this, the anthocyanin profile of the extract needed to be ascertained. Although several anthocyanins were detected by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS, delphinidin-3-sambubioside (major) and cyanidin-3-sambubioside were predominant.