LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS based metabolomics in analysis of Myrtus communis leaves from Sardinia (Italy)

The species Myrtus communis L. represents a significant economic resource in Sardinia region (Italy), in fact its tissues are used both for the preparation of myrtle liquor and for essential oils or extracts with important pharmacological activities. Identification and quantification of polyphenolic compounds in leaves of M. communis L. appears interesting from both a biological and ecophysiological point of view. In the present study the discrimination of phytochemical content of M. communis L. leaves from different geographic origin and cultivars, was explored by Liquid Chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS) followed by Multivariate Data Analysis and phytochemical characterization. A total of 47 compounds were detected and 35 of them were tentatively identified on the bases of their retention time, UV/Vis spectra, MS spectra and MS fragmentation patterns. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square – Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) projection methods were applied to compare fingerprints and to discriminate the different geographical areas of the seeds used for the cultivation.