Identification and quantification of anthocyanins in the berries of Pistacia lentiscus L., Phillyrea latifolia L. and Rubia peregrina L.

Anthocyanin composition in the berries of Pistacia lentiscus L., Phillyrea latifolia L. and Rubia peregrina L., three wild shrubs which are widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, was determined for the first time. The pigments were extracted from the berries with 0.1% HCl methanol solution, purified on a C-18 solid-phase cartridge and characterized by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–diode array detection (DAD)–mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. The major anthocyanin of P. lentiscus berries has been identified as cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. Delphinidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-arabinoside have also been found in minor quantities. The major anthocyanin in the extracts of P. latifolia and R. peregrina berries was cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside. Low quantities of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside have also been found. The attractive color and the great abundance of these plants in the Mediterranean area make them a new and very good source of natural pigments and antioxidant agents.