An improved analytical strategy based on the QuEChERS method for piceatannol analysis in seeds of Passiflora species

An improved analytical strategy based on the QuEChERS extraction method combined with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was developed and validated for the first time for piceatannol determination in passion fruit seeds. The method showed a limit of quantification of 160 mu g kg(-1), good linearity (r(2) = 0.9957), recoveries in the range of 82-102% with good precision (RSD < 9%) and low matrix effect (+17%). The new method was successfully applied for piceatannol determination in four passion fruit seeds species: Passiflora edulis Sims Flavicarpa, P. edulis Sims, Passiflora allata Curtis, and Passiflora ligularis Juss; for the last two species for the first time. Among them, the higher amounts of piceatannol were found in the seeds of P. allata Curtis and P. edulis Sims: 20.8 +/- 0.4 and 14.6 +/- 0.2 mg kg(-1), respectively. Antioxidant activity was also evaluated and, in general, the antioxidant potential was stronger the higher the piceatannol concentration in the passion fruit seeds extracts. The obtained results highlight that passion fruit seeds are a rich source of piceatannol, boosting new applicability for these by-products, and indicating that the QuEChERS method is a powerful analytical strategy for piceatannol determination.

Automated summary

An improved analytical strategy combining QuEChERS extraction method with HPLC-DAD was developed for the determination of piceatannol in passion fruit seeds, with good quantification limit, linearity, and recovery rates. The study revealed that passion fruit seeds, particularly the species Passiflora allata Curtis and P. edulis Sims, are rich sources of piceatannol with strong antioxidant potential.