Rapid screening for anthocyanins and anthocyanin dimers in crude grape extracts by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and efficient method using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) for fast screening large numbers of anthocyanins and anthocyanin dimers in different grape skin extracts, without further sample cleanup procedures, was developed. A good separation of most detected anthocyanins was achieved in a run time of 15 min. identification of anthocyanin pigments required a combination of several information: UV-vis spectra, MS and MS/MS spectra, and elution pattern. Many compounds have been here detected for the first time and their structures tentatively elucidated. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.