Multivariate statistical analysis of the polyphenolic constituents in kiwifruit juices to trace fruit varieties and geographical origins

- 21 phenolic compounds in kiwifruit juices were determined by UPLC-UHR-TOF-MS.
- Kiwifruit juices were classified in terms of varieties and geographical origins.
- Stepwise linear discriminant analysis yielded a satisfactory classification.
- Polyphenols can be served as discriminating markers for kiwifruit juices.

Fifty-one kiwifruit juice samples of seven kiwifruit varieties from five regions in China were analyzed to determine their polyphenols contents and to trace fruit varieties and geographical origins by multivariate statistical analysis. Twenty-one polyphenols belonging to four compound classes were determined by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultra-high-resolution TOF mass spectrometry. (−)-Epicatechin, (+)-catechin, procyanidin B1 and caffeic acid derivatives were the predominant phenolic compounds in the juices. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed a clear separation of the juices according to kiwifruit varieties. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis (SLDA) yielded satisfactory categorization of samples, provided 100% success rate according to kiwifruit varieties and 92.2% success rate according to geographical origins. The result showed that polyphenolic profiles of kiwifruit juices contain enough information to trace fruit varieties and geographical origins.