Investigation on the phenolic constituents in Hamamelis virginiana leaves by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS.

Duckstein, Sarina; Stintzing, Florian

queous and acetone/water extracts from Hamamelis virginiana leaves were investigated to obtain a thorough insight into their phenolic composition. To secure compound integrity, a gentle extraction method including the exclusion of light was used. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses yielded a fingerprint including 27 phenolic constituents. Quantification of the key compounds on an equivalent basis by high-performance liquid chromatography diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) showed that gallotannins consisting of six to 11 galloyl units constitute the main fraction, whereas procyanidins and catechin represented only a minor part. Closer inspection revealed that both extracts possess virtually the same galloyl hexose distribution, and the octagalloyl hexose represents the major tannin constituent. Additionally, eight flavonol glycosides and their corresponding aglycones quercetin and kaempferol, as well as three chlorogenic acid isomers and other hydroxycinnamic acids, were identified. Moreover, stability studies on the aqueous extract (5 °C, dark; room temperature, dark; room temperature, light) revealed that the phenolic profile underwent changes when exposed to light. Especially the gallotannins proved to be considerably unstable which may result in phytochemically altered Hamamelis leaf extracts upon transport and storage. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

COMMON witch hazel; LIQUID chromatography; TANDEM mass spectrometry; PHENOLS; ACETONE

Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2011, Vol 401, Issue 2, p677

1618-2642

Academic Journal

10.1007/s00216-011-5111-3