One injection to profile the chemical composition and dual-antioxidation activities of Rosa chinensis Jacq.

Abstract An on-line high-performance liquid chromatography−diode-array-detector−electrospray ionization−ion-trap−time-of-flight−mass spectrometry−total antioxidant capacity detection (HPLC−DAD−ESI−IT−TOF−MS−TACD) system was applied for the identification and evaluation of antioxidants in Rosa chinensis Jacq., an edible flower in food industry and a widely used traditional Chinese medicine. With the help of this platform, the HPLC fingerprint, mass fragmentations, and sample activity profiles against 1,1-diphenylpicryl-2-hydrazyl radical (DPPH•) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were recorded after one injection. Using this technique, 80 compounds were separated and identified by their LC/MS behaviors with the assistance of standard compounds. In addition, 11 different Rosa chinensis Jacq. samples were profiled and then quantified for their DPPH• and FRAP activities. Interestingly, a total of 52 compounds showed antioxidative effects against DPPH• and 61 were active against FRAP. The results demonstrated that the on-line system is a powerful technique for antioxidant discovery in Rosa chinensis Jacq. and other food resources.