Characterization and Quantification of the Major Bioactive Compounds in Mexican Purple Tomatoes

The present work carries out a quantitative analysis of the major bioactive compounds found in the native Mexican purple tomatoes. Total phenolic content ranged from 7.54 to 57.79 mg TPC/g DM, total flavonoid content ranged from 1.89 to 16.93 mg TFC/g DM, total anthocyanin content ranged from 0.29 to 2.56 mg TAC/g DM, and total carotenoid content ranged from 0.11 to 0.75 mg TCC/ g DM. In addition, 14 phenolic acids were identified, among which caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were the most abundant compounds with chlorogenic acid concentration up to 9.680 mg/g DM, together with flavonoids, such as rutin and quercetin-hexoxide. The qualitative analysis also showed the presence of 9 acylated anthocyanins and 2 carotenoids with significant functional features. As for anthocyanins, their chemical structures disclosed special structural features: glycosylated anthocyanins exhibited cis-trans hydroxycinnamic moieties and petunidin-3-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-rutinoside-5-glucoside was reported to be the main anthocyanin, whitin the range of concentrations between 0.160 and 1.143 mg/g DM.