Mass spectrometry-based phytochemical screening for hypoglycemic activity of Fagioli di Sarconi beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

- All Fagioli di Sarconi beans showed in vitro antidiabetic activity.
- Flow injection-ESI-uHRMS was performed to investigate untarget metabolite profile.
- Elemental formulas were calculated from accurate m/z values.
- Alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids were annotated.
- The secondary metabolites appear to be correlated to antidiabetic activity.

The present study deals with the evaluation of antidiabetic activities of Fagioli di Sarconi beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), including 21 ecotypes protected by the European Union with the mark PGI (i.e., Protected Geographical Indication), and cultivated in Basilicata (southern Italy). For this purpose, α-glucosidase and α-amylase assays were assessed; among all bean ecotypes, the tight green seed colour of Verdolino extracts exhibited the highest α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC50 = 1.1 ± 0.1 μg/ml and IC50 = 19.3 ± 1.1 μg/ml, respectively. Phytochemical compound screening of all Fagioli di Sarconi beans performed by flow injection-electrospray ionization-ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (uHRMS) and based on the calculation of elemental formulas from accurate m/z values, was helpful to annotate specific compounds, such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which are most likely responsible for their biological activity.