HR MS Based Metabolite Profiling, Determination of Total Phenolic, Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Properties of Extracts of Feronia limonia

Abstract

Background: The present study focuses on the phytochemical analysis and estimation of total phenolic, flavanoid content; antioxidant potential and identification of phytochemicals in Feronia limonia (L.) Swin. leaves using Flash chromatography, HPTLC, HR-MS study.

Material and Methods: The continuous soxhlet extraction was used to extract the dried powdered leaves of Feronia limonia. The extracts were screened for the presence of phytoconstituents. The phenolic, flavanoid, tannin content were estimated by the standard method.

H2O2 and 1,1 Diphenyl hydrazine method was used to determine the in vitro antioxidant potential. Based on the preliminary results, two extracts ethanolic and ethyl acetate were selected and fractionated by Flash Chromatography. The fractions were analyzed by HR-MS method to identify and characterize the active phytoconstituents present in the fractions.

Results: The ethyl acetate extract showed presence of the highest concentration of flavanoids (20.41± 0.040mg/g of Quercetin Equivalent), phenolics (15.781±0.241 mg/g of Gallic acid Equivalent). Ethanolic extract showed higher amount of tannins (53.239±0.392 mg/g of Tannic acid Equivalent). The ethyl acetate extract showed highest anti-oxidant potential by DPPH and H2O2 assay (59.63% and 53.09% respectively). Flash chromatography of FLEA yielded total 13 fractions, FLEt gave total 11 fractions. Based on HPTLC analysis, four fractions FLEA5, FLEA7, FLEt1a, FLEt3 were analyzed by HR-MS analysis to identify the phytoconstituents. HR-MS analysis showed presence of thirteen compounds wherein bergapten was predominantly identified.

Conclusion: HR-MS study, bergapten was identified as one of the major reported phytoconstituent along with five unknown compounds. Using mass library data, here we reported two new flavonoids and three phenolic in the FLEt and FLEA extracts respectively.