Quantification of cranberry proanthocyanidins by normal phase high performance liquid chromatography using relative response factors

Authors: SINATARA, MARSHA - International Chemistry Testing; WANG, YIFEI - Ohio University; LI, LIN - International Chemistry Testing; LIU, HAIYAN - Ocean Spray; CUNNINGHAM, DAVID - Ocean Spray; PRIOR, RONALD - University Of Arkansas; Chen, Pei; CHANG, TONY - International Chemistry Testing; Wu, Xianli

Submitted to: Phytochemical Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2020
Publication Date: 5/29/2020
Citation: Sinatara, M., Wang, Y., Li, L., Liu, H., Cunningham, D.G., Prior, R.L., Chen, P., Chang, T., Wu, X. 2020. Quantification of cranberry proanthocyanidins by normal phase high performance liquid chromatography using relative response factors. Phytochemical Analysis. 31:874-883. https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.2952.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.2952

Interpretive Summary: American cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain primarily A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have been shown to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI) and other chronic diseases. In this study, a normal phase high performance liquid chromatography method to quantify oligomeric and polymeric PACs in cranberry products was developed. This method quantifies PACs by using the relative response factors generated specifically for cranberry PACs. It provides a more accurate method in determining cranberry proanthocyanidins in cranberry food products.

Technical Abstract: American cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain primarily A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have been shown to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI) and other chronic diseases. In this study, a normal phase high performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) method to quantify oligomeric and polymeric PACs in cranberry products was developed. Individual PAC oligomers with degree of polymerization (DP) 3-9 and total polymers were isolated from cranberry juice concentrate. Characterization of the isolated PAC oligomers were performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). Oligomeric PACs in cranberries were found to contain both A-type and B-type linkage, and epicatechin and epigallocatechin as basic units. The relative response factors of each oligomer from DP 3-9 and total polymers were then determined against procyanidin A2 standard. Quantifications of PACs by NP-HPLC using relative response factors, along with using single standard and by DMAC assay, were conducted in three cranberry food products for comparisons. The results by using relative response factors were significantly higher than that by the other two methods. In conclusion, this HPLC based method using the relative response factors, which were generated specifically for cranberry oligomers and polymers, provides a more accurate method in determining cranberry proanthocyanidins. It can be used to quantify individual oligomers, polymers and total PACs in cranberry food products.