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Introduction Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) is a self‐seeded shrub, widespread in Sardinia, with anti‐inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic and balsamic properties. Its berries, employed for the production of sweet myrtle liqueur, are characterised by a high content of bioactive polyphenols, mainly anthocyanins. Anthocyanin composition is quite specific for vegetables/fruits and can be used as a fingerprint to determine the authenticity, geographical origin and quality of raw materials, products and extracts. Objective To rapidly analyse and determine anthocyanins in 17 samples of Myrtus communis berries by developing a platform based on the integration of UHPLC–MS/MS quantitative data and multivariate analysis with the aim of extracting the most information possible from the data. Methodology UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS methods, working in positive ion mode, were performed for the detection and determination of target compounds in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Optimal chromatographic conditions were achieved using an XSelect HSS T3 column and a gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the quantitative data to correlate and discriminate 17 geographical collections of Myrtus communis. Results The developed quantitative method was reliable, sensitive and specific and was successfully applied to the quantification of 17 anthocyanins. Peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside was the most abundant compound in all the extracts investigated. Conclusion The developed methodology allows the identification of quali‐quantitative differences among M. communis samples and thus defines the quality and value of this raw material for marketed products. Moreover, the reported data have an immediate commercial value due to the current interest in developing antioxidant nutraceuticals from Mediterranean plants, including Sardinian Myrtus communis.

Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant and an excellent dietary source of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and health-promoting phytochemicals (phenolic compounds, glucosinolates and isothiocyanates). Glucosinolates and isothiocyanates are known to possess anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant effects and have attracted great interest from both toxicological and pharmacological points of view, as they are able to induce phase 2 detoxification enzymes and to inhibit phase 1 activation enzymes. Phenolic compounds possess antioxidant properties and may exert a preventative effect in regards to the development of chronic degenerative diseases. The aim of this work was to assess the profile and the level of bioactive compounds in all parts of M. oleifera seedlings, by using different MS approaches. First, flow injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (FI-ESI-MS) fingerprinting techniques and chemometrics (PCA) were used to achieve the characterization of the different plant's organs in terms of profile of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates. Second, LC-MS and LC-MS/MS qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the identification and/or determination of phenolics and glucosinolates in M. oleifera.

Introduction\ud\udMyrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) is a self‐seeded shrub, widespread in Sardinia, with anti‐inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic and balsamic properties. Its berries, employed for the production of sweet myrtle liqueur, are characterised by a high content of bioactive polyphenols, mainly anthocyanins. Anthocyanin composition is quite specific for vegetables/fruits and can be used as a fingerprint to determine the authenticity, geographical origin and quality of raw materials, products and extracts. \ud\ud\udObjective\ud\udTo rapidly analyse and determine anthocyanins in 17 samples of Myrtus communis berries by developing a platform based on the integration of UHPLC–MS/MS quantitative data and multivariate analysis with the aim of extracting the most information possible from the data. \ud\ud\udMethodology\ud\udUHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS methods, working in positive ion mode, were performed for the detection and determination of target compounds in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Optimal chromatographic conditions were achieved using an XSelect HSS T3 column and a gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the quantitative data to correlate and discriminate 17 geographical collections of Myrtus communis. \ud\ud\udResults\ud\udThe developed quantitative method was reliable, sensitive and specific and was successfully applied to the quantification of 17 anthocyanins. Peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside was the most abundant compound in all the extracts investigated. \ud\ud\udConclusion\ud\udThe developed methodology allows the identification of quali‐quantitative differences among M. communis samples and thus defines the quality and value of this raw material for marketed products. Moreover, the reported data have an immediate commercial value due to the current interest in developing antioxidant nutraceuticals from Mediterranean plants, including Sardinian Myrtus communis.

The qualitative and quantitative determination of phenylethanoid glycosides in methanolic extracts of five species of the genus Phlomis (Lamiaceae) has been investigated using a new reversed-phase HPLC method combined with photodiode-array detection and electrospray/MS analysis. Forsythoside B, verbascoside, samioside, alyssonoside, isoverbascoside, leucosceptosides A and B and martynoside were detected. The quantification of the above constituents was performed using echinacoside as internal standard. Knowledge of the content of phenylethanoid glycosides contributes to the chemotaxonomy of the genus.

The two main classes of secondary metabolites, alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides, of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), a Peruvian plant commonly known as 'una de gato', have been analysed. Separation of the alkaloidal fraction was achieved using a solid phase extraction method based on cationic exchange, and an analytical method employing HPLC-ES/MS has been developed. Quantitative data for commercial wild bark, cultivated bark and leaves are reported. The analysis of quinovic acid glycosides was performed directly on the crude extract using both a fast analytical method based on flow injection ES/MS, and a more complete analytical technique using HPLC-MS.