Integrative Analysis Based on HPLC-DAD-MS/MS and NMR of Bertholletia excelsa Bark Biomass Residues: Determination of Ellagic Acid Derivatives

Abstract

Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl. (Lecythidaceae) is a South American tree worldwide known for providing the Brazil nuts. In the Amazon Region, B. excelsa is found in monocultures, integrating agroforestries and providing raw materials for food and timber industries. Through the application of an integrative analysis based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, the present study showed that B. excelsa bark biomass residues contain large quantities of ellagic acid (EA) and its derivatives. Qualitatively, five compounds were characterized for the first time in this species. Quantitations were carried out to determine the total amount of these compounds in outer and inner bark tissues. A total of 4.96 and 44.09 g of EA derivatives per kg of dry residues was determined for the outer and inner barks, respectively. Among the EA derivatives, eschweilenol C, ellagic acid and valoneic acid dilactone were the main compounds. These results pointed B. excelsa barks as a valuable biomass residue with potential to be source of health-promoting compounds. Therefore, a potential raw material as source of valuable bioactive phenolic compounds is described herein.

Polyphenols profile of pomegranate leaves and their role in green synthesis of silver nanoparticles

“…The UV-Visible spectrum of that compound exhibited λ max at 253.7 nm and 367.5 nm. The received spectral data were consistent with those reported for ellagic acid 21 .…”

Advanced Analytical Approaches for the Analysis of Polyphenols in Plants Matrices—A Review

“…Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) are currently the main analytical methods applied in metabolomics studies [123]. Both techniques can enable two approaches for "profiling" studies: a non-targeted approach using chemometric analysis; and a targeted approach for the identification and quantification of known compounds in the plant extract [123,124]. Both techniques have met the requirements of metabolomics by being able to provide information that can lead to molecular structure characterization.…”

“…Although less sensitive than mass spectrometry, NMR is highly reproducible, allowing the operations' standardization [124]. Due to the distinct advantages of each method, NMR and HRMS are considered complementary techniques for the characterization of plant extracts [123].…”

Brazil nuts: nutritional benefits from a unique combination of antioxidants

“…Nevertheless, for comparison, no significant changes during 2 years of storage were observed for the content of phenolics in hazelnuts (Ghirardello et al, 2016). Aqueous extracts of bark biomass residues of the Brazil nut tree may be a relatively inexpensive source of antioxidants, with high amounts of ellagic acid derivatives present (5.0 g/kg for the outer bark and 44 g/kg for the inner bark) (Silva et al, 2019). The major derivatives identified by RP-HPLC-DAD-MS/MS and NMR are eschweilenol C, ellagic acid and valoneic acid dilactone (Silva et al, 2019).…”

“…Aqueous extracts of bark biomass residues of the Brazil nut tree may be a relatively inexpensive source of antioxidants, with high amounts of ellagic acid derivatives present (5.0 g/kg for the outer bark and 44 g/kg for the inner bark) (Silva et al, 2019). The major derivatives identified by RP-HPLC-DAD-MS/MS and NMR are eschweilenol C, ellagic acid and valoneic acid dilactone (Silva et al, 2019). The hard shell of the Brazil nut fruit should also be investigated as a source of antioxidants.…”