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Determination of the polyphenolic fraction of Pistacia vera L. kernel extracts by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection

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Abstract

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and it is a small tree species. It is native of the Middle East and Central Asia, but currently, it is cultivated also in California and in some Mediterranean countries, such as Greece and Italy. The most important pistachio producers are Iran, the USA, and Turkey. Besides being a delicious nut, pistachio, due to its wholesome nutritional properties, could be considered as a functional food. According to the results of several studies, pistachios have been proven to have various groups of valuable phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, isoflavones, flavanones, stilbenes, and phenolic acids, possessing excellent biological activities. The most common analytical technique employed for their analysis is represented by liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection. However, conventional LC can present some limits especially in terms of resolving power. In this contribution, as a powerful alternative, comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC) was applied to the determination of the polyphenolic fraction of pistachio kernels from different geographical origins. A 150-mm micro-bore cyano column (2.7 μm dp) and 50-mm superficially porous C18 silica column (2.7 μm dp) in the first (1D) and second (2D) dimensions were employed, respectively. For boosting orthogonality, a shift 2D gradient was investigated leading to an increase in the overall peak capacity. The newly developed LC×LC method showed satisfactory linearity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy, which was then applied to sample quantitative analysis. A total of 51 different polyphenolic compounds were determined in the four samples investigated and 18 out of them are hereby reported for the first time.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Shimadzu and Merck Life Science Corporations for the continuous support.

Funding

This study received financial support from the “Prof. Antonio Imbesi Foundation” of the University of Messina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Foundation Prof. Antonio Imbesi, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy

    Katia Arena

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy

    Katia Arena, Domenica Mangraviti, Mariosimone Zoccali, Paola Dugo & Luigi Mondello

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Francesco Cacciola

  4. Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy

    Francesca Rigano, Paola Dugo & Luigi Mondello

  5. Pistì - Antichi Sapori dell’Etna S.r.L Viale J. F. Kennedy/Zona artigianale 12-13, 95034, Bronte, CT, Italy

    Nino Marino

  6. Unit of Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy

    Paola Dugo & Luigi Mondello

Authors
  1. Katia Arena
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  2. Francesco Cacciola
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  3. Domenica Mangraviti
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  4. Mariosimone Zoccali
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  5. Francesca Rigano
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  6. Nino Marino
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Correspondence to Francesco Cacciola.

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Published in the topical collection Young Investigators in (Bio-)Analytical Chemistry with guest editors Erin Baker, Kerstin Leopold, Francesco Ricci, and Wei Wang.

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Arena, K., Cacciola, F., Mangraviti, D. et al. Determination of the polyphenolic fraction of Pistacia vera L. kernel extracts by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 411, 4819–4829 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-01649-w

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