MALDI‐ and LDI‐MS saponin fingerprint of leaves and stick components of commercial yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis)

Abstract

Yerba mate (YM) is massively produced and consumed as an infusion in South America and spreading all over the world. This product is obtained from dried leaves of Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire, mixed with fragments of dried branches (sticks). For its commercialization, YM must have a minimum percentage of leaves because its presence determines YM quality and price. Till today, a mechanical methodology to determine the relative amount of components (sticks, leaves, and powder) is used. There is not any modern analytical method that provides information for quick characterization of the YM components. Typical saponin fingerprints for leaves and sticks were found by using ultraviolet matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization and ultraviolet laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Then, their possible application as useful tools for quick characterization of components of commercial YM (leaves and sticks) is presented. Furthermore, fingerprints obtained from authentic samples of Ilex paraguariensis and Ilex dumosa are also included and discussed. Each Ilex show typical saponin fingerprints for leaves and sticks.

Yerba Mate—A Long but Current History

“…The MALDIand LDI-MS method developed by Petroselli et al to assess the quality of the raw material now allows the detection of known saponins in I. paraguariensis leaves, as well as new ones not previously described as components of commercial Yerba Mate. The method can also reveal the presence of contaminants and/or food additives, such as cyclodextrins α and β [33].…”

Presencia de bacterias en bombillas para infusiones y en cavidad oral de pacientes con salud periodontal y antecedentes de enfermedad periodontal: análisis exploratorio.

“…El mate/tereré es una bebida clásica de frecuente empleo diario en la mayor parte de la población (11) . El consumo de esta bebida podría implicar un riesgo para la salud si estuviera contaminada con cualquier tipo de patógeno.…”

Characterization and quantification of bioactive compounds from Ilex paraguariensis residue by HPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS from plants cultivated under different cultivation systems

“…Studies that have analyzed the essential oil extracted from the yerba mate leaves have already reported the presence of this compound (Gullón et al, 2018;Polidoro et al, 2016;Purcaro et al, 2009). An aroma precursor with m/z of 509.22 (compound 18 from Table 1) (Heck & De Mejia, 2007;Petroselli et al, 2019;Puangpraphant & De Mejia, 2009;Taketa et al, 2004). Matesaponin 2, a compound already identified to be present in I. paraguariensis (Mateos et al, 2017), presented two fragments from the loss of glycosidic rings.…”

“…This is one of the most mentioned plants in the literature regarding the high content of phenolic compounds, especially chlorogenic acids (about 9.8 g/100 g fresh weight), which stands out as the major source of 220 vegetables (Balzan et al., 2013; Bravo et al., 2007; De Souza et al., 2011; Meinhart et al., 2017; Meinhart, Damin, Caldeirão, & Godoy, 2019;, 2019b). Other classes of compounds such as saponins (Heck & De Mejia, 2007; Petroselli et al., 2019), flavonoids (De Souza et al., 2011; Donato et al., 2009; Peres et al., 2013), essential oils (Gullón et al., 2018; Polidoro et al., 2016), and methylxanthines (Mateos et al., 2018; Meinhart, Damin, Caldeirão, & Godoy, 2019; Rosa et al., 2016), among others, have also been reported. Several biological activities of I. paraguariensis extracts and isolated compounds have been reported, including antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, modification of lipid composition in rats, and inhibition of cell growth, among others (Baeza et al., 2016; Balzan et al., 2013; Bravo et al., 2007; Gullón et al., 2018; Puangpraphant & De Mejia, 2009).…”