Abstract

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is a wild plant that is widely been used for juice consumption and medicinal purposes, primarily by individuals residing in the plant's natural growth regions. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatographydiode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and HPLC-electro-spray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) were used to investigate the composition of major anthocyanins in the fruit of L. ruthenicum Murr. (Qaidam Basin). Seven main anthocyanins were effectively identified and quantified, and we detected the rare anthocyanins that naturally present a coumaric acid in both cis and trans configurations. The content of anthocyanins was measured semi-quantitatively by HPLC. The concentration of Petunidin-3-O-rutinose (trans-p-coumaric acid)-5-O-glucose was the major compound (4.477 mg / 100 g), and the total anthocyanins content in the fruit was 5.4 mg / 100 g. The L. ruthenicum Murr. Hydrophilic Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (H-ORAC) assay value was 4557 (µmol TE/g) comparable to that of the other fruits that have been reported previously. This study has contributed to the elucidation of the main anthocyanins composition from L. ruthenicum Murr. fruits. The results may prove useful in the further development and utilization of the fruit's natural pigment, both as a resource for food additives and for pharmaceuticals.

Keywords: Lycium ruthenicum Murr, HPLC–ESI-MS, anthocyanins, H-ORAC