ANTHOCYANINS IN LILAC FLOWERS SYRINGA VULGARIS

Anthocyanins from flowers of common lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.) of various color intensities and shades of lilac color from nine samples purchased at the Belgorod market were studied using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. To determine the structure of anthocyanins, we used the analysis of electronic absorption spectra recorded in the cuvette of a diode array detector and the analysis of mass spectra obtained by electrospray ionization with partial fragmentation. As a result, it was found that in all the studied samples the main component was delphinidin-3-rutinoside (84–90% by peak areas in the chromatogram). The level of cyanidin-3-rutinoside biosynthesis was significantly lower (6–19.6%). Among the minor compounds, delphinidin-3-glucoside and petunidin-3-glucoside were found. Among the unusual compounds, pyranoanthocyanin, built on the basis of delphinidin-3-rutinoside due to condensation with pyruvic acid, was found in a number of studied samples, but the reasons for its appearance have not yet been established. The total content of anthocyanins is low and amounts to 0.020–0.120 g per 100 g of fresh material (depending on the color intensity of the original plant material) in terms of cyanidin-3-glucoside. By drying flowers on a cut branch, air-dried material was obtained containing 0.100–0.300 g per 100 g of anthocyanins.