Analysis of proanthocyanidins and flavonols in the seedpods of Chinese Antique Lotus: A rich source of antioxidants.

Antique Lotus (Nelumbo) is a perennial aquatic plant with unique historical significance and cultural value, whereas its potential economic value hasn't been fully explored. The present study showed that lotus seedpods had significantly higher antioxidant capacity than other parts by FRAP, ABTS, and ORAC assays and analyzed the proanthocyanidins and flavonols in the seedpods of Antique Lotus. Polyphenols contributed to great antioxidant activity and 51 polyphenols were identified by UPLC-TQ-MS analysis. In which, 27 compounds were identified from lotus seedpods for the first time, including 20 trimers, 5 dimers and 2 tetramers of proanthocyanidin. Total proanthocyanidins explained 70%-90% of the different antioxidant activities and the content of proanthocyanidin trimers showed the strongest correlations with the antioxidant activities. This study provided a fundamental reference for the research of polyphenols in lotus and found that Antique Lotus seedpod extracts have the promising prospects of additives used in feed and food processing.

New insights on the analysis of phytosterols in pollen and anther wall of tree peony (Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan') revealed by GC-MS/MS.

Phytosterols exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities and have no side-effects, which have attracted more and more attention. In this study, two pre-treatment methods (alkaline hydrolysis and acid-alkali hydrolysis) were performed in parallel for the first time to investigate the effects on phytosterol analysis. The aim is to develop an analytical method for phytosterols in pollen and anther wall of tree peony (Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan') by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The result indicated that the contents of phytosterols in pollen (3390.02 mg/100 g DW) and anther wall (929.70 mg/100 g DW) of P. ostii 'Fengdan' were relatively high. Meanwhile, eleven phytosterols were identified, among which five phytosterols were first identified in tree peony pollen. Moreover, the effects of wall breaking and different developmental stages on phytosterol contents of pollen and anther wall of P. ostii 'Fengdan' were also discussed. The result showed that wall breaking was beneficial to sterol detection of pollen, but not necessary for anther wall. For the best harvest time, the stage of S2 had the highest content of phytosterols. In conclusion, this study successfully establishes an analytical method for phytosterols by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and lays a foundation for the development and utilization of pollen and anther wall of P. ostii 'Fengdan' in functional foods and pharmaceutical industry.

Germplasm resources and genetic breeding of Paeonia: a systematic review.

Members of the genus Paeonia, which consists of globally renowned ornamentals and traditional medicinal plants with a rich history spanning over 1500 years, are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Since 1900, over 2200 new horticultural Paeonia cultivars have been created by the discovery and breeding of wild species. However, information pertaining to Paeonia breeding is considerably fragmented, with fundamental gaps in knowledge, creating a bottleneck in effective breeding strategies. This review systematically introduces Paeonia germplasm resources, including wild species and cultivars, summarizes the breeding strategy and results of each Paeonia cultivar group, and focuses on recent progress in the isolation and functional characterization of structural and regulatory genes related to important horticultural traits. Perspectives pertaining to the resource protection and utilization, breeding and industrialization of Paeonia in the future are also briefly discussed.

Glutathionyl-S-chlorogenic acid is present in fruit of Vaccinium species, potato tubers and apple juice.

A hydroxycinnamate-like component was identified in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) fruit, which had identical UV and mass spectrometric properties to an S-linked glutathionyl conjugate of chlorogenic acid synthesized using a peroxidase-catalyzed reaction. The conjugate was present in fruits from all highbush blueberry genotypes grown in one season, reaching 7-20% of the relative abundance of 5-caffeoylquininc acid. It was enriched, along with anthocyanins, by fractionation on solid phase cation-exchange units. Mining of pre-existing LC-MS data confirmed that this conjugate was ubiquitous in highbush blueberries, but also present in other Vaccinium species. Similar data mining identified this conjugate in potato tubers with enrichment in peel tissues. In addition, the conjugate was also present in commercial apple juice and was stable to pasteurization and storage. Although glutathionyl conjugates of hydroxycinnamic acids have been noted previously, this is the first report of glutathionyl conjugates of chlorogenic acids in commonly-eaten fruits and vegetables.

Characterization of phytochemicals in the roots of wild herbaceous peonies from China and screening for medicinal resources.

Paeonia Radix Rubra (PRR) is a very common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The roots of Paeonia lactiflora and Paeonia anomala subsp. veitchii are used for the production of PRR. However, other species of section Paeonia in China are also used to produce PRR. The roots of section Paeonia from 20 populations of seven species and two subspecies in China were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF- MS). A total of 21 metabolites were identified, including nine monoterpene glycosides, seven tannins, three phenols, one paeonol and one flavonoid. There were significant differences in the composition and content of metabolites among different populations. The relative contents of monoterpene glycosides and tannins were generally higher in most samples. Cluster analysis showed that 20 populations could be divided into four groups. Among them, the populations of P. lactiflora and Paeonia mairei were clustered together in one group. The content of paeoniflorin in P. lactiflora was high (>22.20 mg g-1, dry weight, the same below), and the content of lactiflorin in P. mairei (>17.50 mg g-1) was significantly higher than in other species (<2.30 mg g-1). The monoterpene glycoside content in P. mairei (>51.60 mg g-1) was significantly higher than in other species (<43.40 mg g-1), suggesting that it could be useful medicinal germplasm for the development of monoterpene glycosides. In addition, some populations of Paeonia emodi, Paeonia sterniana and P. mairei may also be used as potential germplasm resources for use in PRR. Genetic and environmental factors resulted in differences in the composition and content of metabolites in different populations of the same species. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider the origin of Paeonia germplasm when selecting medicinal materials to be used as resources for the production of PRR.

Determination of xanthones and flavonoids of methanol extracts obtained from different parts of the plants of three Gentianaceae species.

Gentianopsis barbata, Halenia corniculata, and Gentianella acuta were widely distributed throughout China and commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, owing to similar living environments and morphological features, locals often had trouble distinguishing between these three species. In this present study, chromatograms at 350 nm were obtained and the composition and content of their chemical compounds determined using HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2. In total, 35 chemical compounds were detected, 32 of which were identified, 25 of which were xanthones, 6 flavonoids, and 1 chlorogenic acid. The 350 nm chromatograms of these three species displayed evident differences. The individual compounds and their occurrence and content in different parts of the plant within different species were included in our results. This basic data will be useful for future pharmacological study. The total compositions of flavonoids and xanthones were approximately comparable in G. barbata and H. corniculata. Meanwhile, xanthones were predominant in G. acuta. From the perspective of chemical compound compositions, the leaf is recommended as the most valuable medicinal section for each of these three species.

Phytochemical variation among the traditional Chinese medicine Mu Dan Pi from Paeonia suffruticosa (tree peony).

Mu Dan Pi is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat inflammation, cancer, allergies, diabetes, angiocardiopathy, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, the metabolome variation within Mu Dan Pi collected from 372 tree peony cultivars was systematically investigated. In total, 42 metabolites were identified, comprising of 14 monoterpene glucosides, 11 tannins, 8 paeonols, 6 flavonoids, and 3 phenols. All cultivars revealed similar metabolite profiles, however, they were further classified into seven groups on the basis of their varying metabolite contents by hierarchical cluster analysis. Traditional cultivars for Mu Dan Pi were found to have very low metabolite contents, falling into clusters I and II. Cultivars with the highest amounts of metabolites were grouped in clusters VI and VII. Five potential cultivars, namely, 'Bai Yuan Qi Guan', 'Cao Zhou Hong', 'Da Zong Zi', 'Sheng Dan Lu', and 'Cheng Xin', with high contents of monoterpene glycosides, tannins, and paeonols, were further screened. Interestingly, the majority of investigated cultivars had relatively higher metabolite contents compared to the traditional medicinal tree peony cultivars.

Polyphenol profile and antioxidant activity of the fruit and leaf of Vaccinium glaucoalbum from the Tibetan Himalayas.

Vaccinium glaucoalbum, a perennial evergreen shrub, is naturally distributed in high-altitude areas. In this study, the composition and content of polyphenolic compounds in the fruit and leaf of V. glaucoalbum were characterized. In total, 24 chemical compounds were detected and identified by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS2. Among all the compounds determined, 15 were anthocyanins and detected in fruit, 5 were flavonols and monitored in leaf, and 4 were chlorogenic acids and found in both fruit and leaf. The total anthocyanin content (TAC) of fruit (682mg/100gFW) was the highest among wild Vaccinium berries in China which have been investigated for now, and the total flavonol content of leaf was 2764mg/100gFW. The antioxidant activity of both fruit and leaf was assessed by DPPH and FRAP assays. Given its high TAC and strong antioxidant activity, the fruit of V. glaucoalbum has great potential in functional food.

Assessment of flavonoids and volatile compounds in tea infusions of water lily flowers and their antioxidant activities.

Water lily, a member of the Nymphaeaceae family, can be made into tea on the basis of outstanding fragrance characteristics and health care functions. In this study, 16 flavonoids were identified and quantified in tea infusions prepared from the petals of 33 water lily cultivars using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The infusions were analyzed with HS-SPME coupled with GC-MS; 29 volatile compounds were detected, of which nine were found to be scent components. The cultivars were clustered into three clusters characterized according to scent components. The 'Conqueror' and 'Virginia' cultivars had the highest antioxidant activities. The concentrations of polyphenols and flavonoids showed significant positive correlations with antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, ABTS(+), and FRAP assays. This study is valuable for a fuller understanding of this important tea and can also be used for the development of water lily.

Analysis of active compounds and antioxidant activity assessment of six popular Chinese Juhua teas.

Chrysanthemum is an important traditional Chinese medicine and is drunk daily as a herbal tea. Chlorogenic acids and flavonoids are generally considered as the bioactive compounds. In this work, six kinds of Juhua Tea were analyzed and their active compounds and antioxidant activities were compared. In total, 32 phenolic compounds were profiled and identified using HPLC-DAD/ESI-MSn, composed of chlorogenic acids (10), flavones (8), chalcones (8), flavanones (4) and flavonols (2). Chalcones were the main flavonoids in Kunlun Xueju (Coreopsis tinctoria) extract, while flavones and chlorogenic acids were dominant in the five Chrysanthemum teas. Total chlorogenic acids content (TCA) was highest in Tai Ju (Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. 'Tai Ju') (8.59 ± 0.87 mg/g DW), and total flavonoids content (TF) was highest in Kunlun Xueju (87.2 ± 7.0 mg/g DW), which were both lowest in Ganye Ju (Chrysanthemum eticuspe) (TCA 0.86 ± 0.26 mg/g DW, TF 1.43 ± 0.41 mg/g DW). Huangin Ju (Anthemis tinctoria) possessed the most flavones (19.7 ± 0.6 mg/g DW). Antioxidant capacity of each drink, assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, consistently showed that Kunlun Xueju extract possessed stronger antioxidant activity than the other five, suggesting that the flavonoids content accounted for the free radical scavenging. The present work provides a method for the characterization and quality control of Juhua Tea. Moreover, it is a guideline for consuming choice, due to the different biological functions resulting from chalcones, chlorogenic acids, and flavones.

Systematic qualitative and quantitative assessment of fatty acids in the seeds of 60 tree peony (Paeonia section Moutan DC.) cultivars by GC-MS.

Seeds from Paeonia ostii and Paeoniarockii have been recently identified as novel resources of α-linolenic acid (ALA) in China. To assess whether tree peony cultivars can be used as oil resource, fatty acids (FAs) in 60 cultivars were monitored and evaluated in this study. The results indicated that the composition and content of FAs varied dramatically among different cultivars, in which ALA, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid were the dominant. The 60 cultivars were classified into six clusters by hierarchical cluster analysis, and they were quite distinct from each other. Finally, six cultivars with high yield and high quality were screened out, comprising of 'Liuliguanzhu', 'Hongguanyupei', 'LSS-2', 'LSS-1', 'Jingshenhuanfa' and 'LSS-11'. These cultivars were appropriately applied in practical oil production. Overall, tree peony oil with abundant unsaturated fatty acids especially ALA was proved to be a top-grade source for edible oil and nutritional supplements.

Variation of anthocyanins and flavonols in Vaccinium uliginosum berry in Lesser Khingan Mountains and its antioxidant activity.

Variation of anthocyanin and flavonol in Vaccinium uliginosum berry from seven locations in the Lesser Khingan Mountains was examined for the first time. A total of 14 anthocyanins and 10 flavonols were identified using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS(2) analysis. The composition of anthocyanins and flavonols in berries were the same in all of the locations investigated. Malvidin 3-O-glucoside was the most abundant anthocyanin, and quercetin 3-O-galactoside was the main flavonol compound. The berries from Wuying region had the highest concentrations of both anthocyanins and flavonols. It was found that the concentrations of both anthocyanins and flavonols increased with rising altitude. Furthermore, the concentrations of polyphenols, and especially anthocyanins, in V. uliginosum berry showed significant positive correlation with antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, ABTS(+) and FRAP assays. This study is valuable for further basic research and applied development of V. uliginosum in the Lesser Khingan Mountains.

Comparative genetic analysis of Arabidopsis purple acid phosphatases AtPAP10, AtPAP12, and AtPAP26 provides new insights into their roles in plant adaptation to phosphate deprivation.

Induction and secretion of acid phosphatases (APases) is thought to be an adaptive mechanism that helps plants survive and grow under phosphate (Pi) deprivation. In Arabidopsis, there are 29 purple acid phosphatase (AtPAP) genes. To systematically investigate the roles of different AtPAPs, we first identified knockout or knock-down T-DNA lines for all 29 AtPAP genes. Using these atpap mutants combined with in-gel and quantitative APase enzyme assays, we demonstrated that AtPAP12 and AtPAP26 are two major intracellular and secreted APases in Arabidopsis while AtPAP10 is mainly a secreted APase. On Pi-deficient (P-) medium or P- medium supplemented with the organophosphates ADP and fructose-6-phosphate (Fru-6-P), growth of atpap10 was significantly reduced whereas growth of atpap12 was only moderately reduced, and growth of atpap26 was nearly equal to that of the wild type (WT). Overexpression of the AtPAP12 or AtPAP26 gene, however, caused plants to grow better on P- or P- medium supplemented with ADP or Fru-6-P. Interestingly, Pi levels are essentially the same for the WT and overexpressing lines, although these two types of plants have significantly different growth phenotypes. These results suggest that the APases may have other roles besides enhancing internal Pi recycling or releasing Pi from external organophosphates for plant uptake.

Polyphenols and triterpenes from Chaenomeles fruits: chemical analysis and antioxidant activities assessment.

Mugua, fruit of the genus Chaenomeles, is a valuable source of health food and Chinese medicine. To elucidate the bioactive compounds of five wild Chaenomeles species, extracts from fresh fruits were investigated by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS/MS. Among the 24 polyphenol compounds obtained, 20 were flavan-3-ols (including catechin, epicatechin and procyanidin oligomers). The mean polymerisation degree (mDP) of procyanidins was examined by two acid-catalysed cleavage reactions; the mDP value was the highest in Chaenomeles sinensis and the lowest in Chaenomeles japonica. Total polyphenol content (TPC) reached 46.92 and 46.28 mg/g gallic acid equivalents (GAE) in Chaenomeles speciosa and Chaenomeles thibetica, respectively, although their main bioactive compounds were different (being epicatechin and procyanidin B2 in the former, and catechin and procyanidin B1 in the latter). These two species also exhibited equally strong free radical scavenging activities. Our results further showed that the antioxidant ability of Chaenomeles fruits was significantly correlated to their total polyphenol contents. Two triterpenes (oleanolic acid and ursolic acid) were the highest quantity in Chaenomeles cathayensis and C. thibetica, respectively.

Arabidopsis purple acid phosphatase 10 is a component of plant adaptive mechanism to phosphate limitation.

When grown with inadequate quantities of inorganic phosphate (Pi), plants synthesize and secret acid phosphatases into the rhizosphere. These secreted acid phosphatases are thought to release the Pi group from organophosphates present in the surrounding environment and to thereby increase Pi availability to plants. So far, however, the genetic evidence to support this hypothesis is still lacking. Previously, we showed that overexpression of Arabidopsis purple acid phosphatase 10 (AtPAP10) improved the growth of plants on Pi-deficient medium (P⁻ medium) supplemented with the organophosphate compound ADP; in contrast, the growth of atpap10 mutant lines was reduced on the same medium. In the current research, we determined the growth performance of these lines on P⁻ medium supplemented with four other organophosphates. The results showed that AtPAP10 could utilize rhizosphere organophosphates other than ADP for plant growth but with different utilization efficiencies. This work provides further genetic evidence that AtPAP10 phosphatase is a component of plant adaptive mechanism to Pi limitation.

Rapid separation and identification of anthocyanins from flowers of Viola yedoensis and V. prionantha by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.

INTRODUCTION: Anthocyanins are important plant secondary metabolites. They show strong antioxidant activities and have potential as anti-cancer agents. Viola yedoensis and V. prionantha are traditional Chinese medicines and ornamental plants. However, the anthocyanin compositions of these two species are still unresolved. OBJECTIVE: To develop a rapid and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the separation and identification of anthocyanins from V. yedoensis and V. prionantha. METHODOLOGY: Samples were extracted in methanol-water-formic acid-TFA (70:27:2:1, v/v). HPLC analysis was done on a C(18) column (TSK-GEL ODS-80Ts: 150 × 4.6 mm i.d.). Four solvent systems were tested to optimise the separation of anthocyanins using different gradient separation systems. HPLC-photodiode array detection (DAD) coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to carry out the comprehensive characterisation of anthocyanins. RESULTS: Fourteen anthocyanins were characterised within 40 min with satisfactory peak resolution by a gradient composed of 10% aqueous formic acid and formic acid-acetonitrile-water (10:40:50, v/v). The calibration curve showed an excellent linear regression (r(2) = 0.9995) and low intra- and inter-day variations (RSD < 3.67%). The detected anthocyanins derived from Dp, Cy, Pt, Mv and Pn, could be divided into three groups: non-acylated glycosides, acetylglycosides and coumaroylglycosides. Anthocyanins distribution exhibited remarkable differences in aglycone levels and acylation patterns. CONCLUSION: The optimised method was successfully applied for the analysis of 14 anthocyanins from V. yedoensis and V. prionantha. The identification of anthocyanin constitutions is valuable for breeding and will open up new prospects for their medicinal application.

Flavonoid composition and antioxidant activity of tree peony (Paeonia section moutan) yellow flowers.

Tree peony flowers are edible and traditional Chinese medicine materials. In the present study, 26 flavonoids were identified and quantified in yellow flowers of tree peony by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and by HPLC-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). Seventeen of them were first reported in flowers of tree peony, and glycosides of kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin as well as isosalipurposide were the main flavonoids investigated. Furthermore, the petal extracts showed high antioxidant activity according to DPPH*, ABTS*(+), and OH* scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. There were significant correlations between antioxidant activity and both the total polyphenol content (determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method) and the total content of quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin glycosides. This work is valuable for elucidation of phenolic composition in tree peony flowers and for further utilization of them as functional food and medicine materials.

Simultaneous analysis of anthocyanins and flavonols in petals of lotus (Nelumbo) cultivars by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A fast and reliable HPLC method for the simultaneous separation of anthocyanins and flavonols in lotus petals was developed based on the study of four candidate solvent systems. Fifteen flavonoids were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection/mass spectrometry. Among them, two anthocyanins and nine flavonols were discovered in lotus petals for the first time. This work is valuable for both the hybrid breeding on lotus oriented to flower color and the utilization of lotus petals as functional food materials.

[Comparison of the content of effective components between tree peony wild species and main cultivars].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the content of paeonol and paeoniflorin in wild tree peony species and main medicinal cultivars in order to provide scientific foundations for the industrialization of tree peony cortex. METHODS: HPLC was used to compare the effective content of different resources. RESULTS: (1) The content range of paeonol and paeoniflorin of 7 wild species was 0.10%-0.61% and 2.22%-5.57%, respectively; (2) The content range of paeonol and paeoniflorin of all cultivars from different producing area was 0.33%-1.43% and 1.60%-2.85%; (3) The content range of paeonol and paeoniflorin of different cultivars in the same place (Changping, Beijing) was 0.27%-0.75% and 1.87%-3.96%; (4) The content range of paeonol of cultivars from the same area was 0.34%-1.10%. There was no significant difference of relative content of paeoniflorin from the same areas. CONCLUSION: The relative content of main medicinal components of wild species was not higher than cultivar; the differences were significant among cultivars; the relative content of paeonol of 'JSF' was high; more attention of choosing cultivars and producing areas should be paid in tree peony cortex producing.