Spatial Distribution of Polyphenolic Compounds in Corn Grains (Zea mays L. var. Pioneer) Studied by Laser Confocal Microscopy and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Desirable changes in the biochemical composition of food plants is a key outcome of breeding strategies. The subsequent localization of nutritional phytochemicals in plant tissues gives important information regarding the extent of their synthesis across a tissue. We performed a detailed metabolomic analysis of phytochemical substances of grains from Zea mays L. (var. Pioneer) by tandem mass spectrometry and localization by confocal microscopy. We found that anthocyanins are located mainly in the aleurone layer of the grain. High-performance liquid chromatography in combination with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 56 compounds, including 30 polyphenols. This method allows for effective and rapid analysis of anthocyanins by plotting their distribution in seeds and grains of different plants. This approach will permit a more efficient screening of phenotypic varieties during food plant breeding.

Research of Dracocephalum palmatum S. and Dracocephalum ruyschiana L. originating from Yakutia and identification of metabolites by tandem mass spectrometry

Dracocephalum palmatum Stephan and Dracocephalum ruyschiana L. contains a large number of target analytes, which are biologically active compounds. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in combination with a BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) was used to identify target analytes in extracts of D. palmatum Stephan and D. ruyschiana L., originating from Yakutia. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 61 compounds, of which 53 were identified for the first time in genus Dracocephalum. These are flavones: Apigenin 8-C-pentoside-6-C-hexoside, Apigenin 7-sulfate; Chrysin 6-C-glucoside, Chrysin glucuronide; flavanols: Kaempferol, Dihydrokaempferol, Astragalin; flavan-3-ol (epi)Catechin, phenolic acids: Methylgallic acid; Hydroxy methoxy dimethylbenzoic acid; Ellagic acid; Caffeoylshikimic acid; Prolithospermic acid; 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid; salvianolic acid G; stilbenes pinosylvin and resveratrol; anthocyanins Petunidin, Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside; Peonidin-3-O-glucoside; Cyanidin 3-(acetyl)hexose; perillic acid; lignans: Hinokinin, Dimethyl-secoisolariciresinol, Podophyllotoxin, carotenoids: Apocarotenal, 5,8-epoxy-alpha-carotene; etc.

LC-MS/MS Screening of Phenolic Compounds in Wild and Cultivated Grapes Vitis amurensis Rupr

This work represents a comparative metabolomic study of extracts of wild grapes obtained from six different places in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories (Far East Russia) and extracts of grapes obtained from the collection of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (St. Petersburg). The metabolome analysis was performed by liquid chromatography in combination with ion trap mass spectrometry. The results showed the presence of 118 compounds in ethanolic extracts of V. amurensis grapes. In addition, several metabolites were newly annotated in V. amurensis. The highest diversity of phenolic compounds was identified in the samples of the V. amurensis grape collected in the vicinity of Vyazemsky (Khabarovsk Territory) and the floodplain of the Arsenyevka River (Primorsky Territory), compared to the other wild samples and cultural grapes obtained in the collection of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources.

Features and Advantages of Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Sea Cucumber Cucumaria frondosa japonica Semper, 1868

Extraction process of Cucumaria frondosa japonica Semper, 1868, which are subspecies of Cucumaria frondosa (Gunnerus, 1767), were studied. It was shown that supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of holothuria was more effective than conventional solvent extraction. Step-by-step extraction with carbon dioxide followed by supercritical extraction with the addition of a co-solvent of ethanol can almost double the yields of extracts of triterpene glycosides, styrenes and carotenoids. Moreover, the fraction of triterpene glycosides practically does not contain colored impurities, in contrast to traditional ethanol extraction. The obtained extracts by HPLC in combination with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) identified 15 triterpene glycosides, 18 styrene compounds and 14 carotenoids. Supercritical extraction made it possible to obtain extracts with yields superior to conventional hexane and alcohol extracts. Moreover, such an approach with the use of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and subsequent profiling of metabolites can help with the study of holothuria species that are not as well studied.

Comparative Analysis of Far East Sikhotinsky Rhododendron (Rh. sichotense) and East Siberian Rhododendron (Rh. adamsii) Using Supercritical CO2-Extraction and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS Spectrometry

Rhododendron sichotense Pojark. and Rhododendron adamsii Rheder have been actively used in ethnomedicine in Mongolia, China and Buryatia (Russia) for centuries, as an antioxidant, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, vitality-restoring agent. These plants contain various phenolic compounds and fatty acids with valuable biological activity. Among green and selective extraction methods, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction has been shown to be the method of choice for the recovery of these naturally occurring compounds. Operative parameters and working conditions have been optimized by experimenting with different pressures (300–400 bar), temperatures (50–60 °C) and CO₂ flow rates (50 mL/min) with 1% ethanol as co-solvent. The extraction time varied from 60 to 70 min. A HPLC-UV-VIS-ESI-MS/MS technique was applied to detect target analytes. A total of 48 different biologically active components have been identified in the Rh. adamsii SC-CO₂ extracts. A total of 31 different biologically active components have been identified in the Rh. sichotense SC-CO₂ extracts.

Rapid Mass Spectrometric Study of a Supercritical CO2-extract from Woody Liana Schisandra chinensis by HPLC-SPD-ESI-MS/MS

Woody liana Schisandra chinensis contains valuable lignans, which are phenylpropanoids with valuable biological activity. Among green and selective extraction methods, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) was shown to be the method of choice for the recovery of these naturally occurring compounds. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was the solvent with the flow rate (10−25 g/min) with 2% ethanol as co-solvent. In this piece of work operative parameters and working conditions were optimized by experimenting with different pressures (200–400 bars) and temperatures (40–60 °C). The extraction time varied from 60 to 120 min. HPLC-SPD-ESI -MS/MS techniques were applied to detect target analytes. Twenty-six different lignans were identified in the S. chinensis SC-CO₂ extracts.

Supercritical CO2 Extraction and Identification of Ginsenosides in Russian and North Korean Ginseng by HPLC with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Ginseng roots, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, obtained from cultivated ginseng grown in the Kaesong province (North Korea) and Primorye (Russia) were extracted using the supercritical CO₂ extraction method. The extracts were subsequently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry identification. The results showed the spectral peaks of typical ginsenosides with some other minor groups, and major differences were observed between the spectra of the two ginseng samples. The use of a pressure of 400 bar and higher allowed an increase in the yield of ginsenosides in comparison with similar previous studies