Kumquat (Fortunella japonica Swingle) juice: Flavonoid distribution and antioxidant properties

Abstract The flavonoids composition of kumquat ( Fortunella japonica) crude juice, obtained from uripe and ripe fruits, were investigated by reverse-phase LC-DAD-ESI-ITMS analysis. Thirteen compounds ( C - and O -glycosyl flavonoids) were identified. Acacetin 3,6-di- C -glucoside ( 1 ), vicenin-2 ( 2 ), lucenin-2 4′-methyl ether ( 3 ) narirutin 4′- O -glucoside ( 4 ) and apigenin 8- C -neohesperidoside ( 5 ) were identified for the first time in kumquat juice. Furthermore, we report on the remarkable antioxidant properties of crude juice, of selected flavonoids fractions and of the main component, phloretin 3′,5′-di- C -glucoside ( 6 ).