Iridoids and anthocyanins in cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) cultivars

The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of iridoids and anthocyanins of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) ripe fruits were investigated. The characteristics of these compounds were determined using HPLC-DAD, LC-ESI-MS, and NMR methods. Two iridoids (loganic acid and cornuside) and five anthocyanins (delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin glycosides) were identified in cornelian cherry fruits. The MS fragmentation pathways of the two iridoids were studied. A total of 26 different cultivars and 2 ecotypes, harvested from five locations in the years 2007-2011 were analyzed. The content of total iridoids in cornelian cherry fruits covered a wide range, i.e. from 86.91 to 493.69 mg/100 g fw. Loganic acid was the most dominant iridoid compound identified in cornelian cherry fruits and amounted to 88-96% of total iridoids. The total content of anthocyanins in red cultivars of cornelian cherry fruits was in a wide range from 5.59 to 134.57 and 341.18 mg/100 g fw. In most cornelian cherry fruits, pelargonidin 3-galactopyranoside was dominant.