Tentative characterization of phenolic compounds in three species of the genus Embelia by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis

Abstract

This article illustrates the chemical characterization of phenolic compounds, of the selected species of the genus Embelia viz., Embelia ribes, Embelia tsjeriam-cottam, and Embelia basaal using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis with electrospray ionization (ESI) in negative mode. The analysis of samples allowed first-time identification of different phenolic compounds, which consists of various types of flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, organic acids, and their derivatives, benzenoids, coumarins, and stilbens in this genus. Seventy-three different phenolic compounds were identified based on the fragment ions, and over thirty unknown compounds with unique fragmentation patterns were further noted. The results of the study offer that the selected species of the genus Embelia, which is being used in centuries-old traditional medical systems, is a promising source of medicinally valuable compounds like luteolin, sinesetin, rutin, naringenin, astragalin, narcissin, vanillic acid, resveratrol, and so on.

Keywords:

• Embelia basaal
• Embelia ribes
• Embelia tsjeriam-cottam
• HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS
• phenolic profile

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. C. T. Sulaiman, Senior Scientist, Phytochemistry Division, Center for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR), AVS, Kottakkal, Kerala, India for insightful discussions and critical comments on the manuscript. The help rendered by Dr. P. S. Udayan, Professor in Botany, Sreekrishna College, Guruvayur, Kerala, India in collection and identification of the plant species are acknowledged with praise. We also thank Dr. Indira Balachandran, Director, CMPR for granting facilities for mass spectral studies. Encouragement and support offered by the Dr. Syam Viswanath, Director, KSCSTE-KFRI, Peechi, Kerala and financial support extended by KSCSTE are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.