UHPLC-HRMS-based profiling and simultaneous quantification of the hydrophilic phenolic compounds from the aerial parts of Hypericum aucheri Jaub. & Spach (Hypericaceae)

Abstract

A validated UHPLC-HRMS method was developed to identify and quantify polar phenolic metabolites in the EtOH extract from H. aucheri Jaub. & Spach’s aerial parts. The external standards, chlorogenic acid, mangiferin, and hyperoside were selected in this analysis. Forty-four compounds, encompassing hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives, benzophenones, catechins, xanthones, flavonols, biflavones, and chromones were detected and quantified in the aerial parts of the titled plant. Pentahydroxyxanthone-C-glycoside 15, maclurin-O-(benzoyl)-hexoside 37, norathyriol-O-(benzoyl)-hexosides 38 and 42 were suggested to be new natural compounds, while maclurin-O-hexoside 2 was reported for the first time for Hypericum genus. Additionally, more than 22 secondary metabolites, including benzophenones, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, catechins, and a chromone, were identified for the first time in H. aucheri. The amounts of the detected metabolites were calculated relative to external standards. The dominant polar phenolic constituents were chlorogenic acid (11.55 mg/g D.W.) and mangiferin (9.13 mg/g D.W.).