LC-MS/MS-based Targeted Metabolomic Profiling of Aqueous and Hydro-alcoholic Extracts of Pistacia integerrima Linn., Quercus infectoria Olivier and Terminalia chebula Retz

Abstract

Background Pistacia integerrima (PI) galls, being rich in polyphenolic compounds, owing to its high restorative worth and restricted assets and exorbitant utilization lead to the overexploitation of the species and availability issues. It is expected to categorise under the red list of threatened taxa. Ayurveda text Bhaishajaya Ratnavali mentioned Quercus infectoria (QI) as ‘pratinidhi’ or substitute of PI and Yogaratnakara (abhavvarga) text reference indicated Terminalia chebula (TC) having the same therapeutic character as in PI. Hence, this study was focused on the comparative quantification of major polyphenolic compounds in aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of PI, QI and TC by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). Objectives The LC-MS/MS method was used for the determination of polyphenolic compounds in aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of PI, QI and TC. Materials and Methods The LC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantification of targeted polyphenolic compounds and validated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and limit of quantification. Analysis performed by LC-MS/MS 6460 C triple quad coupled with Agilent HPLC. The chromatographic separation was performed on the RP C18 column with gradient elution. Results The developed method of LC-MS/MS was used for the quantitative estimation of gallic acid, corilagin acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, rutin hydrate, ellagic acid, quercetin and morin hydrate in PI, QI and TC. As per method validation parameters, calibration plots were found to be linear, accurate, precise and specific for LC-MS/MS. The calibration plot exhibited an excellent coefficient of determination ( R2 ≥ 0.99), and extraction recovery was found 96.20%–103.71%. Gallic acid and ellagic acid are the most abundant compound among eight targeted polyphenolics in all extracts. Conclusion The finding of LC-MS/MS analysis of polyphenolic compounds in aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts indicates that PI, QI and TC are having phytochemical similarities up to an extent in polyphenolic compounds as a secondary metabolite; however, a firmer opinion can be formed after a comparative efficacy study and the evaluation of all three extracts.

Phytochemical Profiling and Biological Activities of Quercus sp. Galls (Oak Galls): A Systematic Review of Studies Published in the Last 5 Years

“…In a study that evaluated the phenolic composition of oak galls, gallic acid and ellagic acid were found to be the most abundant phenolic components in aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts. For both, gallic acid and ellagic acid, the concentration in the aqueous extract (106,711.25 ± 951.25 µg/g dw and, respectively, 5105.03 ± 102.34 µg/g dw) was higher than in the hydroalcoholic extract (84,613.34 ± 589.12 µg/g dw and 3522.31 ± 82.36 µg/g dw, respectively) [66]. In contrast, another experiment reported a much lower content for gallic acid (3724.12 µg/g dw) in the methanolic extract of Q. infectoria nutgalls [63].…”

“…Its concentration in oak galls varied widely among the five studies included in the review, between 0.50 mg/g dw and 589.041 mg/g dw [10,21,34,40,43]. A recent work reported a lower caffeic acid content in oak galls, 0.07 ± 0.01 µg/g dw in the aqueous extract and 1.70 ± 0.16 µg/g dw in the hydroalcoholic extract [66].…”

“…LC-MS is a useful tool in the metabolic profiling of plant samples, which has demonstrated its significant role in the identification, purification, and characterization of phenolic acids and flavonoids from the richest source of phenolic compounds with excellent antioxidant properties, namely, green leafy vegetables [65]. The LC-MS/MS method was also used in a study for the quantitative estimation of five phenolic acids, i.e., gallic acid, ellagic acid, corilaginic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid, and three flavonoids, respectively, i.e., rutin hydrate, quercetin, and morin hydrate, in the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Q. infectoria galls [66].…”

“…In oak galls, the most prevalent flavonoid compound was quercetin, quantified in five phenolic composition studies [10,21,34,40,43], with the highest amount reported in the work of Mohammadzadeh et al (5.00 mg/g dw) [34]. Other assays reported lower concentrations for quercetin, namely, an amount of 6.36 ± 0.81 µg/g dw in the aqueous extract, 0.38 ± 0.05 µg/g dw in the hydroalcoholic extract [66], and, respectively, 3.7597 µg/g dw in the methanolic extract [63]. Among the flavonoids detected in significant amounts, the highest concentrations were reported for the two flavan-3-ols, epicatechin (171,497.57 µg/g dw) [10] and catechin (15,622.42 µg/g dw) [21], respectively, but also for naringin (19,097.058 µg/g dw) [10] and rutin (10.72 mg/g dw µg/g dw) [34].…”

Multimodal neuroprotection by Terminalia chebula fruit extract against haloperidol-induced neurotoxicity in rats

“…The aqueous extract of its fruit pulp was selected based on its substantial yield and favourable phytochemical composition, encompassing tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, and carboxylic acids. Various solvents effectively extracted diverse phytochemicals from the fruits (Saini et al, 2023). Alkaloids formed reddish-brown precipitates with Dragendorff's reagent, while ferric chloride produced blue precipitates (Seeman et al, 2000).…”