Simultaneous determination of anthocyanins, coumarins and phenolic acids in fruits, kernels and liqueur of Prunus mahaleb L

Abstract

In the fresh tissues of Prunus mahaleb L., three classes of phenolics were characterised: phenolic acid derivatives (main compound being o-coumaric acid glucoside), quercetin glycosides, and anthocyanins (cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3-sambubioside, cyanidin 3-xylosyl-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside). Coumarin was also identified. The kernels showed a high content of coumarin (0.87mgg−1) which is the main class of metabolites in this sample, but present in pitted berries as well (0.63mgg−1). Flavonoids are mainly concentrated in the skin and pulp (0.55mgg−1). In ‘Mirinello di Torremaggiore’ liqueur, produced from P. mahaleb L. in accordance with traditional procedures, anthocyanins make up 16.5%, phenolic acids 43.3%, coumarin 36.2% and flavonoids 4% of total compounds. Anthocyanins are the main class in solid residues from liqueur production (70%). These findings point out that solid residues of P. mahaleb can be considered an interesting and innovative source of appreciable amounts of cyanidin glycosides (3.3mgg−1).