A rapid UPLC method for simultaneous separation and detection of anthocyanidins from Ocimum, Hibiscus and Syzygium species and estimation of their antioxidant activity

Abstract

Since ages, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Syzygium cumini and Hibiscus sabdariffa are being used for various health-promoting purposes. Often such beneficial effects have been strongly correlated with flavonoid and anthocyanin contents of these plants. To separate the compounds, present in these species, an efficient and quick analytical method was developed using an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) system consisting of a BEH C18 reverse phase column. Separation was achieved by a binary solvent system of 80/20 acetonitrile and 0.3% phosphoric acid. The developed method simultaneously separated all six major anthocyanidins with good resolution, linearity and shorter run time within 6 mins. The mean recoveries of anthocyanidins after spiking were found to be between 98.082 and 101.988%. This is one of the few reports of simultaneous separation and identification of anthocyanidins using UPLC in shortest possible time. The anthocyanin containing extracts showed potential antioxidant activity assessed by in-vitro hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl assay. This study generated industrially useful data for efficient recovery and identification of anthocyanidins from a few important ethnopharmacological plant species which has potential for exploitation as antioxidant rich functional food.