Dyeing properties, coloring compounds and antioxidant activity of Hubera nitidissima (Dunal) Chaowasku (Annonaceae)

• First evidence of dyeing properties of the genus Hubera.
• First report of the presence of mangiferin in Annonaceae family.
• UHPLC-DAD-HRMS analysis as efficient molecular characterization method for dyestuffs.

An evaluation of the coloring potential of the different parts of selected plants from New Caledonia has been performed. Among them Hubera nitidissima, an Annonaceae, showed an intense yellow color on fibers. This is the first report of such a coloring potential for a Hubera sp. In this study we present dyeing results obtained with extracts from the leaves of H. nitidissima on linen, silk and wool, color characteristics, dye light-fastness and chemical identity of coloring compounds. The absorbance, K/S index and CIELab coordinates of dyed fibers were measured. Color strength values and fastness properties of the dyed fabrics were high: 7/8 in Blue scale rating. The dyed fibers were analyzed by liquid chromatography hyphenated with UV–Vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry using UHPLC-DAD-HRMS (ESI-QTOF) instrumentation. We identified two xanthones: mangiferin and homomangiferin together with quercetin glycosides. The hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves was screened for its free radical scavenging properties (DPPH) and showed significant antioxidant activity (26.5 μg/mL). The presence of mangiferin in the Annonaceae family is attested here for the first time. As a result of our study, H. nitidissima appears as an excellent source of light-fast yellow dye with interesting antioxidant properties.