Chemical composition analysis of pomegranate seeds based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry

Pomegranate fruit has shown a variety of pharmacological effects, however, the bioactive constituents in pomegranate seeds have not been fully identified. To this end, the chemical compositions of pomegranate seeds were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap HRMS). Prior to analysis, pomegranate seed samples were treated by ultrasonic/microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE). A total of 88 chemical compounds were tentatively identified based on accurate-mass measurements for precursor and fragment ions, including flavonoids, coumarins, phenolic acids, amino acids, and nucleosides. Their mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways were investigated. The study has revealed the nutritional value of pomegranate seeds, paving the way for future further applications of pomegranate seeds in nutrition and health care industry.