HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI Screening of Phenolic Compounds in Pieris brassicae L. Reared on Brassica rapa var.rapaL

Abstract

The phenolic profiles of cabbage white butterfly ( Pieris brassicae L.; Lepidoptera: Pieridae) at different development stages (larvae, exuviae, and butterfly), its excrements, and its host plant Brassica rapa var. rapa L. were determined by high performance liquid chromatography- diode-array detector-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry-electrospray ionization (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI). Twenty-five acylated and nonacylated flavonoid glycosides and ferulic and sinapic acids were identified in host plant, from which only 12 compounds were found in the excrements. In addition, the excrements showed the presence of sulfate flavonoids and other flavonoid glycosides that were not detected in the leaves. In the larvae kept without food for 12 h, only 3 compounds common to the plant material and 2 others, also present in the excrements, were characterized. The results indicate that deacylation, deglycosylation, and sulfating steps are involved in the metabolic process of P. brassicae and that its excrements may constitute a promising source of bioactive compounds, which could be used to take profit of this common pest of Brassica cultures.

Phenolic Compounds and Their Fates In Tropical Lepidopteran Larvae: Modifications In Alkaline Conditions

“…Flavonol sulfates also have been detected in the frass of larvae feeding on Caryodendron orinocense, P. guajava, S. reticulata, T. ochracea, T. bicolor, and V. braceliniae. Similar compounds were found earlier in the frass of lepidopteran Pieris brassicae (Ferreres et al 2008(Ferreres et al , 2009. Ruuhola et al (2001) found that generally over half of the flavonoids ingested by lepidopteran O. brumata could not be detected in larval frass, implying their efficient metabolism by the larvae.…”

“…Some phenolic compounds are sequestered and reused by larvae, e.g., as wing pigments of adult butterflies (Burghardt et al 1997(Burghardt et al , 2001. Certain phenolic compounds proceed intact through the digestive tract of lepidopterans, while others are chemically modified by the larvae (Ferreres et al 2008;Ramos et al 2012;Salminen et al 2004).…”

“…Ruuhola et al (2001) found that generally over half of the flavonoids ingested by lepidopteran O. brumata could not be detected in larval frass, implying their efficient metabolism by the larvae. In some lepidopterans, flavonol glycosides can be deglycosylated prior to their excretion (Ferreres et al 2008, Ferreres et al 2009). …”

Strategies for differentiation of isobaric flavonoids using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

“…Upon evaluating the MRM transitions corresponding to the 287xxx the results indicates (see Figure S5) that most likely more than 10 cyanidin containing compounds are present in the red onion sample. Peak nr 3,5,6,8,10,14,15,17,20,21,27,29,34,35, and 39 (see Figure S5), all show MRM patterns that are similar to the cyanidin standards that were analyzed in this study. The peak in Figure S5 with a retention time of 24.3 min (compound 10) has a retention time close to one of the available standards, Cy-3-rut entry 9 in Table 3, however, method 2 indicates that m/z 611 is the parent ion and not m/z 595.…”

“…One approach found in the literature for achieving this utilizes basic and acidic hydrolysis in such a way that substituents are cleaved off, more or less completely, before chromatographic analysis. [8,[20][21][22] One limitation with this approach is that information about the number of flavonoids with a specific aglycone could not directly be obtained. Furthermore, C-linked substituents are more resistant against hydrolysis [8] , thus identity of those aglycones will not be obtained.…”