Simultaneous determination and characterization of flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactone, and other phenolics from centaurea benedicta and dietary dupplements using UHPLC-PDA-MS and LC-DAD-QToF

Authors: AVULA, BHARATHI - University Of Mississippi; KATRAGUNTA, KUMAR - University Of Mississippi; WANG, YAN-HONG - University Of Mississippi; ALI, ZULFIQAR - University Of Mississippi; KHAN, IKHLAS - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2022
Publication Date: 5/4/2022
Citation: Avula, B., Katragunta, K., Wang, Y., Ali, Z., Khan, I.A. 2022. Simultaneous determination and characterization of flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactone, and other phenolics from centaurea benedicta and dietary dupplements using UHPLC-PDA-MS and LC-DAD-QToF. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114806.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114806

Interpretive Summary: Centaurea benedicta of family Asteraceae is an annual herbaceous plant and commonly known as blessed thistle or St Benedict’s thistle. It is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The dried leaf, stem, including the flowering parts of the plant, have been used in bitter tonic drinks and in other preparations taken orally to enhance appetite, strengthen the liver, and aid digestion. An analytical method was tested and successfully applied for the identification of seven compounds in plant samples of Centaurea species, and twenty-one dietary supplements claiming to contain C. benedictus. Thirteen dietary supplements showed for the presence of C. benedictus and cnicin was found to be the major compound in all analyzed samples. The method was found to be simple, specific and sensitive and can be used for routine quality control of raw materials/dietary supplements and for the quantification of compounds.

Technical Abstract: Simultaneous identification and quantification of sesquiterpene lactone glycoside, phenolic acid and flavonoids in mixed parts of Centaurea benedicta L. were performed for the first time. The LC method showed an adequate performance for the separation of seven compounds. Quantification, detection limits, precision, accuracy as well as robustness were determined. Analysis of various samples showed considerable variation of 0.9-10.3% for the marker compound, cnicin. Twenty-one dietary supplements claiming to contain C. benedictus extract were analyzed for authencity. Thirteen of 21 products showed for the presence C. benedictus. LC-mass spectrometry method coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) is described for the identification of compounds in plant samples. This method involved the use of the protonated, deprotonated and adduct ions for compounds in positive and negative ion modes with extractive ion chromatogram (EIC). The application of LC-QToF provided useful information to characterize sixty-five compounds and the developed methods were also applicable for quality assessment of a both raw material and dietary supplements.