Profiling hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides, iridoid glycosides, and phenylethanoid glycosides in baobab fruit pulp (Adansonia digitata)

•A systematic structural characterization of the constituents in baobab fruit pulp.•All 13 compounds isolated were reported for the first time in the genus of Adansonia.•An UHPLC HRAM MS method was used to conduct further investigation of the hydro-alcohol baobab fruit pulp extract.

The baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a magnificent tree revered throughout Africa and is becoming recognized for its high nutritional and medicinal values. Despite numerous reports on the pharmacological potential, little is known about its chemical compositions. In this study, four hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides (1-4), six iridoid glycosides (5-10), and three phenylethanoid glycosides (11-13) were isolated from the dried baobab fruit pulp. Their structures were determined by means of spectroscopic analyses, including HRMS, 1H and 13C NMR and 2D experiments (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY). All 13 compounds isolated were reported for the first time in the genus of Adansonia. An ultra high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution accurate-mass mass spectrometry (UHPLC HRAM MS) method was used to conduct further investigation of the chemical compositions of the hydro-alcohol baobab fruit pulp extract. Hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides, iridoid glycosides and phenylethanoid glycosides were found to be the main components in baobab fruit pulp.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (188KB)Download full-size image