Phytochemical characterisation of two news blood grapefruits by means of HPLC-MS

Abstract

In this study, the main flavanones, polymethoxyflavones, anthocyanins and furanocoumarins were evaluated in two blood grapefruits (CQP 31 and CQP 32), in their juice, peel, and leaves, by means of HPLC-DAD analysis and identified by HPLC-MS-MS. They are compared with the contents of these secondary metabolites in three commercial grapefruits: Star Ruby, Marsh, and Duncan; a blood orange, cv. Sanguinelli and with the parents of both cultivars Citrus grandis cv Azimboa and cv. Violeta de los valles. The flavonic profile in cultivars CQP 31 and CQP 32 revealed the presence of the characteristic flavanones of grapefruit, naringin being the most abundant. The ripe fruits of cultivars CQP 31 and 32 showed a red coloring due to the presence of anthocyanins with a total juice content of 145 and 136 ppm. The levels of furanocoumarins in juices of cultivar CQP 31 were well below the values quantified in Star Ruby, Marsh and Duncan. These furanocoumarins were not detected in the juice of the cultivar CQP 32. These results indicate that CQP 31 and 32 can be classified as blood grapefruits with a high content of bioactive compounds and low content or absence of furanocoumarins.