African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6918

Full Length Research Paper

Isolation and determination of major anthocyanin pigments in the pericarp of P. communis L. cv. ‘Red Du Comices’ and their association with antioxidant activity

Wen-jiang Huang1,2, Shao-ling Zhang1, Gai-hua Qin1, Le Wenquan3 and Jun Wu1*
  1College of Horticultural Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. 2College of life Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China. 3Changli institute of Pomology, Changli Hebei 06600, China.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 29 February 2012
  •  Published: 10 July 2012

Abstract

 

The anthocyanins in the fruit skin of Pyrus communis cv. ‘Red Du Comice’ were isolated, identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection (HPLC/DAD) and HPLC/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI/MS). The individual anthocyanins were identified by comparing their mass spectral data and retention times with those of standards and published data. Cyanidin-3-galactoside was the major compound, taking up to 93% of the total anthocyanin content. The content of Cyanidin-3-galactoside reached 23.7 ± 3.2 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight, followed by the eighth peak (2.14%) and Cyanidin-3-glucoside (1.23%). Pelargonidin-3-rutinoside (pg-3-rutinoside) was identified for the first time in P. communis L. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays showed that the extract from the fruit peel of ‘Red Du Comice’ contained anthocyanins and possessed high antioxidant capacity.

 

Key words: Pyrus communis, anthocyanin, high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, antioxidant activity.