Chemical and cytotoxicity profiles of 11 pink pepper (Schinus spp.) samples via non-targeted hyphenated high-performance thin-layer chromatography

IntroductionPink pepper is a worldwide used spice that corresponds to the berries of two species, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi or S. molle L. (Anacardiaceae). Toxic and allergic reactions by ingestion or contact with these plants were reported, and classical in vitro studies have highlighted the cytotoxic properties of apolar extracts from the fruits.ObjectivesPerform a non-targeted screening of 11 pink pepper samples for the detection and identification of individual cytotoxic substances.MethodsAfter reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography (RP-HPTLC) separation of the extracts and multi-imaging (UV/Vis/FLD), cytotoxic compounds were detected by bioluminescence reduction from luciferase reporter cells (HEK 293 T-CMV-ELuc) applied directly on the adsorbent surface, followed by elution of detected cytotoxic substance into atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (APCI-HRMS).ResultsSeparations for mid-polar and non-polar fruit extracts demonstrated the selectivity of the method to different substance classes. One cytotoxic substance zone was tentatively assigned as moronic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenoid acid.ConclusionThe developed non-targeted hyphenated RP-HPTLC-UV/Vis/FLD-bioluminescent cytotoxicity bioassay-FIA-APCI-HRMS method was successfully demonstrated for cytotoxicity screening (bioprofiling) and respective cytotoxin assignment.

Automated summary

This study performed a non-targeted screening of 11 pink pepper samples to detect and identify individual cytotoxic substances. The cytotoxic compounds were detected using bioluminescence reduction and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The method demonstrated selectivity to different substance classes and successfully assigned one cytotoxic substance as moronic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenoid acid.