Screening of Mangifera indica L. functional content using PCA and neural networks (ANN).

A method using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was applied after extraction with acidified methanol, to determine 12 bioactive phenolic compounds in the peel and pulp of the mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) cultivated in the Bahia, state of Brazil. The proposed methodology was previously fully validated and proven successful in the analysis of methanolic extracts of lyophilized samples. The limits of quantification ranged between 0.78 and 3.14 mg L-1 and the individual recovery values obtained for the spiked samples ranged from 80% to 120%. The results were evaluated using PCA and ANN. The results indicate that the fruits are rich in polyphenols, mainly: ellagic acid, gallic acid, rutin and catechin, which contribute to their greater use as functional foods, natural antioxidants and in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as other applications.

Multielementar/centesimal composition and determination of bioactive phenolics in dried fruits and capsules containing Goji berries (Lycium barbarum L.).

The elemental/centesimal composition of dried fruits and capsules containing Goji berries (Lycium barbarum L.) was evaluated by ICP OES after two digestion procedures. Furthermore, phenolic acid compounds and flavonoids were quantified by HPLC-UV-DAD. Precision, accuracy, LOD and LOQ were evaluated. The samples showed similar contents of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The metal contents in the samples were found at different levels (minimum-maximum, in mg kg-1), as follows: Ca (181.1-200.2); Cu (1.703-2.145); Fe (7.420-7.852); K (81.78-83.59); Mg (92.58-95.12); Mn (1.630-2.570); Na (587.9-590.7); P (3.124-3.360); Se (2.812-3.345); V (0.055-0.062) and Zn (2.325-2.610). Al, As, Ba Cd, Co, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Sn and Sr showed values below the LOD. Accuracy was assessed by analysis of tomato leaves (NIST 1573a). Eight bioactive phenolic compounds (caffeic, chlorogenic, ellagic, ferulic, gallic, p-coumaric, syringic and vanillic acids) and two flavonoids [(+)-catequin and rutin] were determined, in levels of 55.5-83.700 and 172.3-2982.4 mg kg-1, respectively.