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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357356
Title: Challenges in analyzing bioactive proanthocyanidins

Author
item Zeller, Wayne
item MUELLER-HARVEY, IRENE - University Of Reading

Submitted to: Recent Advances in Polyphenol Research
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2020
Publication Date: 4/19/2021
Citation: Zeller, W.E., Mueller-Harvey, I. 2021. Challenges in analyzing bioactive proanthocyanidins. In: Dreher Reed, J., Pereira de Freitas, V.A., Quideau, S. Recent Advances in Polyphenol Research. 1st edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 131-175. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119545958.ch6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119545958.ch6

Interpretive Summary: This chapter focuses on current procedures used in the isolation, characterization, and analysis of proanthocyanidins (PAs, also referred to as condensed tannins), a class of chemical compounds found in many plants. These procedures are commonly used by researchers studying many aspects of PAs, such as how and why they are made in plants and their impacts on human and animal health and nutrition. Besides methods related to PA isolation, several methods related to analyzing PA content and structure are discussed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. The chapter concludes with a discussion of potential solutions to problems facing scientists whose research depends on knowledge of PA content and structure, and suggests use of multiple methods of PA analysis to insure accurate information. This chapter will serve as a valuable resource for all PA researchers, providing guidance in applicability and selection of contemporary “best-in-class” methods for PA isolation and analysis.

Technical Abstract: Literature reports on research involving proanthocyanidins (PAs, also called condensed tannins) in fields ranging from plant breeding to animal health and nutrition are numerous and continue to increase. This chapter provides a summary of established/emerging procedures used in the isolation and characterization of PAs and discusses the universal problems associated with PA analysis. The structural complexity of PAs and PA structural parameters known to influence their biological activities and chemical properties are discussed. Summaries of techniques used for PA analysis include depolymerization (thiolysis and phloroglucinolysis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR: 13C, 1H-13C HSQC, 13C CPMAS, 31P of derivatized PAs) and infra-red (IR) spectroscopies, mass spectrometric (LC/MS, UPLC-MS/MS) and colorimetric methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these analytical methods are discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of potential solutions to problems facing scientists carrying out PA-related research and suggests the use of multiple methods of PA analysis to insure accurate assessment of PA content and structure.