Selective Extraction Process and Characterization of Antioxidant Phenolic Compounds from Pereskia aculeata Leaves Using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS

This study innovates in comparing biological activities and chemical composition obtained from extracts and fractions from Pereskia aculeate leaves. Seven extracts and five fractions were produced by conventional successive solid–liquid extraction coupled with simultaneous bioguided purification using solvents of distinct polarities. A comparative analysis was conducted between these purified fractions and the original extracts to elucidate potential improvements in the bioactivity. The extract and fractions were evaluated using the ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and Folin–Ciocalteau methods and HPLC-DAD and UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS evaluated chemical composition. The fractions obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract showed better results, with the acetone fraction (Fr-Ace) exhibiting enhanced bioactivity, especially in the FRAP (1095 μmol of FeSO₄/g) antioxidant capacity method. The results demonstrated that medium to high polarity solvents were the most effective in extracting bioactive phenolic compounds, with rutin being the predominant compound. The sequential hydroalcoholic fractionation (SHF) method extracted a greater variety of compounds, including vanillic acid and cinnamic acid, which were reported for the first time in P. aculeate leaves. The identified compounds by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS included flavonoids derived from quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. Quercetin-3-O-xyloside, kaempferol-3-O-arabinoside, trehalose, feruloyltyramine, malyngic acid, pinellic acid, and 16-hydroxy-9-oxooctadeca-10,12,14-trienoic acid were identified for the first time in P. aculeata leaves.