Anthocyanins in Lilac Flowers Syringa vulgaris

Objective: This study aims to determine the structure of anthocyanins of common lilac flowers (Syringa vulgaris L.) of various color intensities and shades of lilac color from nine samples purchased at the Belgorod market by investigation of solute retention regularities of the compounds, peculiarities of their electronic absorption spectra as well as mass-spectra fixtures. Methods: Reversed-phase HPLC with a diode array as well as mass spectra detection by electrospray ionization with partial fragmentation were used. Results and Discussion: It was found that in all the studied samples the main component was delphinidin-3-rutinoside (84-90% by peak areas in the chromatogram). The level of cyanidin-3-rutinoside biosynthesis was significantly lower (6-19.6%). Among the minor compounds, delphinidin-3-glucoside and petunidin-3-glucoside were found. Among the unusual compounds, pyranoanthocyanin, built on the basis of delphinidin-3-rutinoside due to condensation with pyruvic acid, was found in a number of studied samples, but the reasons for its appearance have not yet been established. The total content of anthocyanins in the samples was rather low in the region of 0.020-0.120 g per 100 g of fresh material (depending on the color intensity of the original plant material) expressed as cyanidin-3-glucoside. Conclusions: By drying flowers on a cut branch, air-dried material was obtained containing 0.100-0.300 per 100 g of anthocyanins.