Analysis of Polyphenols in the Lamiaceae Family by Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Extraction Followed by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Determination

Abstract

Polyphenolic compounds (PCs) are natural-occurring secondary metabolites with considerable physiological and morphological importance in plants and different biological functions. In this work, a matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction/purification procedure, followed by an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, has been developed and validated for the quantification of 17 PCs in Ocimum basilicum L., Origanum vulgare L., and Thymus vulgaris L. from the Lamiaceae family. The use of a limited sample amount, combined with small solvent consumption, marks the convenience of this technique for the extraction/isolation of compounds of interest. The validation showed good results, with recoveries ranged between 75 and 105%, relative standard deviation values ≤12%, and very low matrix effects. The experimental results demonstrated the variability of the phenolic pattern of the samples and the need for accurate assessment of the phenolic pattern to establish the real nutraceutical proprieties of food products.