Selective Extraction\nProcess and Characterization\nof Antioxidant Phenolic Compounds from <i>Pereskia aculeata</i> Leaves Using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS

This study innovates\nin comparing biological activities\nand chemical\ncomposition obtained from extracts and fractions from <i>Pereskia\naculeate</i> leaves. Seven extracts and five fractions were produced\nby conventional successive solid–liquid extraction coupled\nwith simultaneous bioguided purification using solvents of distinct\npolarities. A comparative analysis was conducted between these purified\nfractions and the original extracts to elucidate potential improvements\nin the bioactivity. The extract and fractions were evaluated using\nthe ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and Folin–Ciocalteau methods and HPLC-DAD\nand UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS evaluated chemical composition. The fractions\nobtained from the hydroalcoholic extract showed better results, with\nthe acetone fraction (Fr-Ace) exhibiting enhanced bioactivity, especially\nin the FRAP (1095 μmol of FeSO<sub>4</sub>/g) antioxidant capacity\nmethod. The results demonstrated that medium to high polarity solvents\nwere the most effective in extracting bioactive phenolic compounds,\nwith rutin being the predominant compound. The sequential hydroalcoholic\nfractionation (SHF) method extracted a greater variety of compounds,\nincluding vanillic acid and cinnamic acid, which were reported for\nthe first time in <i>P. aculeate</i> leaves. The identified\ncompounds by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS included flavonoids derived from quercetin,\nisorhamnetin, and kaempferol, phenolic acids, and their derivatives.\nQuercetin-3-<i>O</i>-xyloside, kaempferol-3-<i>O</i>-arabinoside, trehalose, feruloyltyramine, malyngic acid, pinellic\nacid, and 16-hydroxy-9-oxooctadeca-10,12,14-trienoic acid were identified\nfor the first time in <i>P. aculeata</i> leaves.