Quantitative analysis of massonianoside B in Pinus species using HPLC/PDA

Abstract

Pinus species are native to the Northern Hemisphere and some parts of the tropics to temperate regions in the Southern Hemisphere. They were used as food and medicine in prehistoric times. Massonianoside B is a compound found in pine trees and possesses antioxidant activity. In order to determine the presence and content of this compound in Pinus species, three different parts (needles, branches, and bark) of three Pinus species were extracted and investigated. High-performance liquid chromatography with a gradient elution system along with a reverse-phase INNO column with photodiode array detector was employed. Results showed that the branches of the three Pinus species had higher massonianoside B content (5.502 to 9.751 mg/g DW) than either the needles or bark. Furthermore, among the three species, P. rigida × P. taeda had the highest concentration of total massonianoside B (11.557 mg/g DW). These findings thus provide evidence of biological activity in Pinus species and establish a foundation for further research.