UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS Characterization of Phenolics from Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laevigata (Hawthorn) Leaves, Fruits and their Herbal Derived Drops (Crataegutt Tropfen)

Abstract

Crataegus species are medicinal plants naturally growing in Europe, Asia and the north of Africa. The plant extracts have been used for a long time in traditional medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Many natural health product, including tablets, teas, and aqueous extracts are made from Crataegus species. These products are currently marketed as an alternative therapy for New York Heart Association (NYHA I-III) heart failure. But further studies suggested the use of the plant extracts for various other cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arrhythmia and angina. Thus, due to the important role that hawthorn plays in medicine and human health, we have investigated qualitatively the phytoconstituents of C. monogyna and C. laevigata, leaves, fruits and their herbal derived drops (Crataegutt Tropfen) using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS and HPLC-ESI-MSn. A total of 113 compounds were identified, characterized or tentatively assigned on the basis of their accurate mass data generated by Q-TOF-MS, MS/MS, MSn fragmentation patterns, retention behaviors, or by comparison with commercial reference standards and literature data. The identified constituents belonged to chlorogenic acids, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, flavonoid glycosides, flavonoid aglycones and derivatives, and other compounds. To our knowledge 63 of the identified phytoconstituents were not reported previously in Crataegus species and two of them for the first time in nature. Additionally, it is important to highlight that this is the first comprehensive study of the bioactive phenolic compounds of C. monogyna and C. laevigata, leaves, fruits and the herbal derived drops (Crataegutt Tropfen).