LC/MS/MS Characterization of Phenolic Constituents in Dried Plums

TLDR

Dried plums are a widely consumed healthy food rich in phenolic compounds that are thought to protect against age‑related diseases. The study employed LC/MS/MS under four different conditions to analyze phytochemicals in commercial dried plums, presenting diagnostic fragmentation patterns based on ESI MS/MS data of the components and fourteen authentic standards. Neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid were identified as the major constituents, while forty minor components were characterized, including six novel ester isomers composed of two caffeic acids and one quinic acid. Keywords: Dried plums; Prunus domestica; hydroxycinnamic acids; chlorogenic acid isomers; LC/MS/MS; MS diagnostic fragmentation pattern.

Abstract

Dried plums are known as a healthy food in the West and used as medicine in India. They have been characterized by high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which are believed to play a crucial role in protection against various age-related diseases. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with four different conditions was used to analyze the phytochemicals in commercial dried plums. The major components were neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid. Forty minor components were characterized by their MS/MS spectra and LC retention time. Six of them are novel ester isomers formed by two caffeic acids and one quinic acid. The diagnostic fragmentation patterns of different phenolics are presented on the basis of electrospray ionization (ESI) MS/MS data of components in dried plums and fourteen authentic standards. Keywords: Dried plums; Prunus domestica; hydroxycinnamic acids; chlorogenic acid isomers; LC/MS/MS; MS diagnostic fragmentation pattern