Identification and quantification of phenolic acids and flavonol glycosides in Tunisian Morus species by HPLC-DAD and HPLC–MS

The total polyphenol and flavonoids in leaves of Morus alba var. alba, Morus alba var. rosa and Morus rubra were determined and identification of their components was carried out. The total content of phenolics varied between 345.20 and 631.53 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry weight (DW) basis. The total amount of flavonoids ranged between 193.87 and 398.33 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/100 g DW. Thirteen compounds were isolated by chromatography, and their structures determined to be mainly flavonol glycosides and phenolic acids. Three novel components were identified as kaempferol-7-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, for the first time from mulberry leaves. Others known compounds were also identified.

► In this work we determined and compared polyphenol and flavonoid contents from leaves of Morus alba var. alba, Morus alba var. rosa and Morus rubra.
► Thirteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified.
► The constituents from studied mulberry leaves were mainly flavonol glycosides and phenolic acids.
► Three novel compounds were identified; kaempferol-7-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside.