Analysis of phytochemical contributors to antioxidant capacity of the peel of Chinese mandarin and orange varieties.

The phytochemicals in the peel of six oranges and ten mandarins including seven wild varieties and three cultivars were systematically characterised using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and the correlation analysis was performed between phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity in order to investigate the phytochemical contributors to antioxidant capacity. The gradient elution was completed within 16 min and 92 compounds were undoubtedly or tentatively identified. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacities were determined using ABTS, DPPH and FRAP methods. The number of compounds, their contents and the antioxidant capacities were sequenced in the same order of the wild mandarins > cultivated mandarins > oranges. The correlation analysis that showed five compounds were significantly correlated with the antioxidant capacity and can act as main contributors to the citrus varieties with high antioxidant capacities. This study is systematic for the metabolites identification of mandarins and oranges and provides valuable information for effective utilisation of citrus peel and their bioactive compounds.

Efficient analysis of phytochemical constituents in the peel of Chinese wild citrus Mangshanju (Citrus reticulata Blanco) by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry.

An efficient ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for separation and profiling of phytochemical constituents of Chinese wild mandarin Mangshanju (Citrus reticulata Blanco). All constituents were well separated within 16 min. Based on retention times, accurate mass, MSE fragments, and/or reference standards as well as databases, a total of 81 compounds were unambiguously identified or tentatively assigned including flavonoid glycosides, acylated flavonoid glycosides, flavones, polymethoxylated flavonoids, and limonoids as well as four other compounds. Among them, 22 polymethoxylated flavones and ten polymethoxylated flavanones/chalcones were identified in Mangshanju, more types than other citrus reported before. A basic procedure for identifying flavonoid-O-glycosides and the aglycones including polymethoxylated flavonoids was proposed. In addition, this method was successfully used to analyze another four mandarin germplasms, Cenxi suan ju, Xipi gousi gan, Nanfeng miju, and Or, showing that Mangshanju contained two characteristic compounds distinct from the other four citrus species. This study systematically profiled phytochemical constituents of Mangshanju, which was helpful for further utilization of Mangshanju owing to its abundant bioactive compounds.

A rapid UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS method for the simultaneous qualitation and quantitation of coumarins, furocoumarins, flavonoids, phenolic acids in pummelo fruits.

The impact of secondary metabolites on fruit quality, plant growth and human health has led to an increased demand for analytical methods to characterize and quantify these metabolites in recent years. A versatile, sensitive and rapid method based on UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS was developed for simultaneous qualitation and quantitation of coumarins, furocoumarins, flavonoids and phenolic acids. The chromatographic elution and multiple reaction monitoring mode transitions were optimized to achieve good separation and accurate quantitation of 47 analytes, including 13 groups of isomers, during a single 13 min chromatographic run. This method was validated with good precision and recoveries, wide linear ranges and low limits of detection and quantitation (0.014-1.50 µg L-1). The validated method was further applied to quantify the analytes in flavedo, albedo and pulp from two pummelo varieties, C. grandis 'Shatianyu' and C. grandis 'Guanximiyu'. This method combines high sensitivity, good selectivity, and short chromatographic run time.