Abstract
Flavonoids are a kind of essential substance for the human body because of their antioxidant properties and extremely high medicinal value. Citrus reticulata “Dahongpao” (DHP) is a special citrus variety that is rich in flavonoids, however little is known about its systematic flavonoids profile. In the present study, the presence of flavonoids in five important citrus varieties, including DHP, Citrus grandis Tomentosa (HZY), Citrus ichangensis Swingle (YCC), Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (TC), and Citrus reticulata ‘Buzhihuo’ (BZH), was determined using a UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based, widely targeted metabolome. Results showed that a total of 254 flavonoid metabolites (including 147 flavone, 39 flavonol, 21 flavanone, 24 anthocyanins, 8 isoflavone, and 15 polyphenol) were identified. The total flavonoid content of peels from DHP was the highest. DHP could be clearly separated from other samples through clustering analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Further, 169 different flavonoid metabolites were observed between DHP peels and the other four citrus peels, and 26 down-regulated differential metabolites displayed important biological activities in DHP. At the same time, a unique flavonoid component, tricin 4′-O-syringyl alcohol, was only found in DHP, which could be used as a marker to distinguish between other varieties. This work might facilitate a better understanding of flavonoid metabolites between DHP peels and the other four citrus peels and provide a reference for its sufficient utilization in the future.
Highlights
Citrus reticulata “Dahongpao” (DHP) is an ancient citrus variety
It was reported that the total flavonoid content of DHP peel was one of the highest in citrus varieties [3], and it has been included in the key protection of citrus varieties in China
The total flavonoid content was determined from the Citrus reticulata “Dahongpao”
Summary
Citrus reticulata “Dahongpao” (DHP) is an ancient citrus variety. Its fruits and peels are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, and are very popular because of their antioxidant properties and extremely high medicinal value [1]. Due to the development of new citrus varieties, DHP has been almost completely replaced by various hybrid mandarins in China, the health promotion or medicinal values of the “Dahongpao” tangerine have attracted more and more attention from researchers [2]. It was reported that the total flavonoid content of DHP peel was one of the highest in citrus varieties [3], and it has been included in the key protection of citrus varieties in China. Systematic analysis of the flavonoids and screening the Molecules 2019, 24, 2680; doi:10.3390/molecules24152680 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
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