Evaluation of the QuEChERS method for the determination of phenolic compounds in yellow (Brassica alba), brown (Brassica juncea), and black (Brassica nigra) mustard seeds

Studies about the phenolic composition of yellow (Brassica alba), brown (Brassica juncea), and black (Brassica nigra) mustard seeds are still scarce in the literature. Hence, this study describes, for the first time, the use of the QuEChERS extraction method followed by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis for phenolic compound determination in the seeds of these mustard species. Under the optimized extraction and analysis conditions, twenty-one phenolic compounds were evaluated. Six, eleven, and seven were found in B. alba, B. juncea, and B. nigra seeds, respectively. The most abundant phenolic compound was sinapic acid, which was found in amounts ranging from 44 to 82 times higher than the other major compounds found in the mustard seeds, ferulic, 4-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acids. Overall, these results are an important contribution to the characterization of the phenolic composition of the three in natura mustard seeds species, and support future reliable phenolic compounds determination with the QuEChERS method.

Automated summary

This study utilized the QuEChERS extraction method and UHPLC-MS/MS analysis to describe the phenolic composition of yellow, brown, and black mustard seeds for the first time. Twenty-one phenolic compounds were evaluated, with sinapic acid being the most abundant. These results contribute significantly to the characterization of phenolic composition in these mustard seeds and support future reliable determination of phenolic compounds using the QuEChERS method.