Characterization of Flavonoid Compounds in Common Swedish Berry Species

Abstract

Berries are considered an ideal source of polyphenols, especially from the flavonoid group. In this study, we examined the flavonoid content in 16 varieties of Swedish lingonberry, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry. Nineteen flavonoids were simultaneously quantified using external standards. An additional 29 flavonoids were tentatively identified using MS as no standards were available. Quantification was done using HPLC-UV after optimization of chromatographic and extraction procedures. The method showed high linearity within the range of 2–100 μg/mL (correlation co-efficient >0.999), intra- and inter-day precision of 1.7–7.3% and average recovery above 84% for all compounds. Blueberries and lingonberries were found to contain higher contents of flavonoids (1100 mg/100 g dry weight) than raspberries and strawberries (500 mg/100 g dry weight). Anthocyanins were the dominant flavonoids in all berries. The tentatively characterized compounds contribute 18%, 29%, 61%, and 67% of the total flavonoid content in strawberries, lingonberries, raspberries, and blueberries, respectively. Overall, Swedish berries were shown to be good sources of polyphenols.

UHPLC-MS Chemical Fingerprinting and Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Gaultheria pumila Berries

“…In addition, fragments at m/z = 151 (C 7 H 3 O 4 − ) and m / z = 107 (C 6 H 3 O 2 − ) formed by the retro Diels–Alder reaction of quercetin moiety were also identified. Peak 18 with a m / z = 447.09341 was identified as quercitrin (C 21 H 19 O 11 − ) and showed a diagnostic fragment at m / z = 300.0275 due the loss of hexoside moiety, while peak 22 with a [M-H] − ion at m / z = 301.03561 was identified as quercetin aglycone [ 38 ]. Quercetin derivatives have been previously reported from G. phillyreifolia [ 11 ], G. poeppigii [ 11 ], G. mucronata [ 14 ], and G. antartica [ 14 ].…”

Effects of Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) Supplementation on Hepatic Gene Expression in High-Fat Diet Fed Mice

“…Berries rich in polyphenolic compounds have shown promising effects in obesity-related metabolic adverse effects and low-grade inflammation in experimental models and in human studies [19][20][21]. Lingonberry is particularly rich in polyphenols and has a remarkable antioxidant activity; the most prevalent phenolic compounds in lingonberry are benzoic acid and its derivatives, flavanol oligomers (namely procyanidins), chlorogenic acid, quercetin derivatives and anthocyanins [22][23][24][25][26]. Recently, the authors of this study, and others, have reported that lingonberry supplementation has potential to inhibit high-fat diet-induced low-grade inflammation and adverse changes in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as visceral fat gain in a mouse model of obesity [27][28][29][30].…”

Urinary Concentrations of (+)-Catechin and (-)-Epicatechin as Biomarkers of Dietary Intake of Flavan-3-ols in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study

“…Acute intake of berries was only correlated with urinary (+)-catechin, whereas their habitual intake correlated with both urinary (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin and their sum. Berries are sources of flavan-3-ol monomers, especially (+)-catechin [34], which would explain the higher correlations observed between the urinary concentrations with this compound. Acute and habitual intake of chocolate and chocolate products was weakly correlated with urinary (-)-epicatechin.…”