HPLC characterization of betalains from plants in the amaranthaceae

J Chromatogr Sci. 2005 Oct;43(9):454-60. doi: 10.1093/chromsci/43.9.454.

Abstract

HPLC characterization of reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been widely used in separation and identification of plant pigments. An effective RP-HPLC-based method is established to systematically isolate, identify, and quantitate the betalain pigments in the plants of 37 species of eight genera in the Amaranthaceae. A total of 16 betacyanins and three betaxanthins are characterized mainly using the RP-HPLC method and also with the aid of mass spectroscopy. The identified betacyanins include eight amaranthine-types, six gomphrenin-types, and two betanin-types. They are also divided into six simple (nonacylated) betacyanins and 10 acylated betacyanins. Acylated betacyanins are identified as betanidin 5-O-beta-glucuronosylglucoside or betanidin 6-O-beta-glucoside acylated with ferulic, p-coumaric, or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acids. Three betaxanthins were separated from Celosia species in the Amaranthaceae and identified to be immonium conjugates of betalamic acid with dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine, and (S)-tryptophan; the latter two are found to be new betaxanthins from plants.

MeSH terms

  • Amaranthaceae / chemistry*
  • Betalains / analysis*
  • Betalains / chemistry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Betalains