Major anthocyanin quantification, free radical scavenging properties and structural identification in Cymbopogon giganteus extracts

Anthocyanin-based colorants are highly appreciated by the food industry for their lower toxicity. However, in Burkina Faso, very little scientific information is available on potential sources of anthocyanins, despite significant progress in plant studies. This scientific report is the first to focus on anthocyanins of Cymbopogon giganteus from Burkina Faso and aims to valorize them for their use as an alternative to synthetic food colorants. The method using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) reagent, the differential pH test, and Liquid Chromatography and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (LC and HPTLC) coupled to ultraviolet and mass spectrometry were used, respectively to determine free radical scavenging properties, anthocyanin content, and structure of anthocyanin compounds. Anthocyanin content evaluation showed values between 0.109 and 1.974 mg cyanidin equivalent per gram of extract. The free radical scavenging properties ranged from 305 to 446 µg/mL and we were able to identify in the high-content anthocyanin extracts, sixteen (16) anthocyanins compounds. Key words: Anthocyanins compounds, molecular characterization, mass spectrometry, LC-UV-MS/MS, free-radical properties.