Abstract: Polyphenolic compounds are widely distributed in vegetables. Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) has a high nutritional value and a low amount of calories. Nevertheless, few studies in the literature focus on the separation and identification of phenolic and other polar compounds in whole zucchini fruit. Therefore, the present study characterizes phenolic and other polar compounds in three kinds of zucchini (Verde, Redondo, and organic Verde) bought in AlmerÃa (Spain). For this purpose, an extraction method using methanol:water (80:20 w/w) has been applied in order to extract the polar fraction from the samples studied. Afterwards, the extracts were injected into the RP-HPLC system and separated by a C18 column. Q-TOF-MS detection was conducted using a micrOTOF-Q equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. The combined use of RP-HPLC coupled to DAD and Q-TOF-MS has proved useful for characterizing numerous phenolic and other polar compounds in zucchini. A total of 57 compounds were identified with the present methodology. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, 41 out of 57 identified compounds are being reported here for the first time in whole zucchini fruit.
Abstract: As the beneficial effects of American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) can be partly attributed to its phenolic composition, the evaluation of the physiological behaviour of this fraction is crucial. A rapid and sensitive method by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) has been used to identify phenolic metabolites in human urine after a single dose of cranberry syrup. Prior to the analysis, metabolites were extracted using an optimised solid-phase extraction procedure. All possible metabolites were investigated based on retention time, accurate mass data and isotope and fragmentation patterns. Free coumaroyl hexose (isomer 1 and 2), dihydroxybenzoic acid, caffeoyl glucose, dihydroferulic acid 4-O-β- D-glucuronide, methoxyquercetin 3-O-galactoside, scopoletin, myricetin and quercetin, together with other 23 phase-I and phase-II metabolites, including various isomers, could be tentatively identified in the urine. Afterwards, the metabolites were simultaneously screened in the urine of different subjects at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h after the ingestion of cranberry syrup by Target AnalysisTM software.
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