Characterization of highly polymerized procyanidins in cider apple (Malus sylvestris var. Kermerrien) skin and pulp

Abstract

Freeze-dried materials of cider apple pulp and skin were submitted to three successive solid-liquid extractions. The water acetone extracts contained significant amounts of condensed tannins; thioacidolysis revealed that they were a mixture of highly polymerized procyanidins mainly constituted of (-)-epicatechin units. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry showed a complete series of polymeric procyanidins with a degree of polymerization up to 17.