Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of heteropolyflavan-3-ols and glucosylated heteropolyflavans in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to characterize the structural diversity of polyflavans in Ruby Red sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Deionization of the polyflavan fractions with Dowex 50 x 8-400 cation-exchange resin and subsequent addition of cesium trifluoroacetate (Cs-133) allowed the detection of exclusively [M + Cs](+) ions. MALDI-TOF MS of the polyflavans that eluate from Sephadex LH-20 columns with methanol and acetone detected a series of masses corresponding to heteropolyflavan-3-ols differing in degree of hydroxylation and nature of the interflavan bond (A-type and B-type). MALDI-TOF MS of the Sephadex-ethanol/methanol (v/v) eluate revealed a series of masses corresponding to heteropolyflavan-5-O-beta-glucoside) that vary in the extent of hydroxylation and contain a flavanone (eriodictyol or eriodictyol-5-O-beta-glucoside) as the terminal unit. The combination of liquid chromatographic separation and MALDI-TOF MS to characterize sorghum polyflavans indicates that the structural heterogeneity is much greater than previously described.