Extraction and normal-phase HPLC-fluorescence-electrospray MS characterization and quantification of procyanidins in cranberry extracts

Cranberries are a major source of procyanidins, an abundant class of bioactive polyphenols found in nature. The objective of this study was to apply a protocol for extraction and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatograph-fluorescence-mass spectroscopy separation and quantification of procyanidins in cranberry extracts containing varying processing aids and/or methods of production. Cranberry extracts were best extracted using an acetone/water technique versus an acid/alkaline extraction. Procyanidins were semi-purified with C-18 and Sephadex LH-20 SPE cartridges (GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Piscataway, N.J., U.S.A.). Characterization and quantification of procyanidins up to octamers and higher molecular weight compounds, including separation of the A- and B-type dimers to tetramers was achieved.