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Analysis of Biologically Active Oxyprenylated Ferulic Acid Derivatives in Citrus Fruits

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Abstract

4′-Geranyloxyferulic (GOFA) and boropinic acid have been discovered during the last decade as interesting phytochemicals having valuable pharmacological effects as cancer chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-Helicobacter pylori agents. A reverse-phase HPLC-UV/Vis method for the separation and quantification of the title oxyprenylated ferulic acid derivatives in extracts obtained from peels of nine edible Citrus and Fortunella fruits was successfully applied. Concentration values showed a great variation between the different species, being orange (C. sinensis) the fruit richest in GOFA (0.141 ± 0.011 mg/g of exocarp fresh weight) and kumquat (Fortunella japonica) the one in which boropinic acid was recorded as the most abundant phytochemical (0.206 ± 0.002 mg/g of exocarp fresh weight). Both secondary metabolites were not detected only in three species. The set-up methodology showed limits of quantification (LOQ) values, that were able to selectively quantify both GOFA and boropinic acid. Results described herein depict a potential chemopreventive dietary feeding role for the Rutaceae spp. under investigation.

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Abbreviations

GOFA:

4′-Geranyloxyferulic acid

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatography

LC:

Liquid chromatography

LOD:

Limit of detection

LOQ:

Limit of quantification

ND:

Not detected

QC:

Quality control

RP:

Reverse phase

RSD:

Relative standard deviation

R.t.:

Room temperature

SD:

Standard deviation

S/N:

Signal to noise

Spp.:

Species

UV:

Ultraviolet

Vis:

Visible

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Acknowledgments

Financial support to this research from the University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara was gratefully acknowledged. Authors wish to thank Angela Cammisa and Paolo Di Vincenzo for their friendly and active collaboration to this work.

Conflict of Interest

All authors confirmed that they have no conflict of interest.

Studies with Humans or Animals

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti Scalo, (CH), Italy

    Salvatore Genovese, Serena Fiorito, Marcello Locatelli, Giuseppe Carlucci & Francesco Epifano

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  1. Salvatore Genovese
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  2. Serena Fiorito
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  3. Marcello Locatelli
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  4. Giuseppe Carlucci
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  5. Francesco Epifano
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Correspondence to Salvatore Genovese.

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Genovese, S., Fiorito, S., Locatelli, M. et al. Analysis of Biologically Active Oxyprenylated Ferulic Acid Derivatives in Citrus Fruits. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 69, 255–260 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-014-0427-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-014-0427-8

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