A Green μQuEChERS/HPLC-PDA Method for Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactivity Assessment of Tomato (Solanum...

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most extensively cultivated crops worldwide and a recognized dietary-rich source of phytochemicals associated with cardioprotective, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-aging properties. This study provides a comprehensive comparative assessment of the lipophilic composition, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity of six Solanum varieties, namely Roma, Kumato, Globe, and Vine (S. lycopersicum L.), Cherry (S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), and Tamarillo (S. betaceum), using a validated μQuEChERS/HPLC-PDA analytical approach combined with complementary in vitro antioxidant assays. The optimized analytical method exhibited robust analytical performance, with strong linearity (R² ≥ 0.993), high sensitivity and selectivity, satisfactory precision (%RSD < 20%), and acceptable recoveries (78-118%), confirming its suitability for routine profiling of lipophilic compounds in complex matrices. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among varieties, highlighting the strong role of genotype in modulating lipophilic phytochemical accumulation. Kumato and Cherry exhibited the highest levels of lycopene, β-carotene, and tocopherols, whereas Globe consistently exhibited the lowest lipophilic antioxidant content. In vitro assays identified Vine with the greatest TPC (290 µgGAE/g dw) and antioxidant activity (1603 µgTE/g dw), while Globe recorded the lowest values (194 µgGAE/g dw and 1395 µgTE/g dw, respectively). Hierarchical clustering analysis further corroborated these findings, revealing three chemically distinct clusters: Vine and Tamarillo associated with superior TPC and antioxidant activity; Cherry and Kumato characterized by elevated carotenoid and tocopherol content; and Globe and Roma distinguished by comparatively lower nutritional quality across all parameters assessed. These results demonstrate that the validated μQuEChERS/HPLC-PDA method is a reliable, sensitive, and efficient tool for comparative phytochemical profiling of tomato varieties. The observed compositional differences may contribute to future studies focused on nutritional evaluation, traceability, and authenticity assessment of tomato-derived products.