Ferreres_2012_Food.Chem_134_894

HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS(n was used to ascertain the authenticity of two certified and two commercial Bauhinia forficata Link samples Different flavonoids profiles were obtained involving 39 compounds Just kaempferol-3-O-(2-rhamnosyl)rutinoside was found in all analysed samples Five compounds were common to the certified samples of B forficata Link and B forficata Link subsp pruinosa Vogel Fortunato Wunderlin being kaempferol derivatives the most representative ones The phenolic composition of B forficata Link subsp pruinosa Vogel Fortunato Wunderlin is described herein for the first time accounting for eight compounds while 10 new compounds were identified in B forficata Link Commercial B forficata Link showed higher contents of quercetin derivatives in addition to the presence of myricetin derivatives and flavonoids-(galloyl)glycosides for which the MS fragmentation pattern is reported for the first time B forficata Link and the two commercial samples were able to inhibit alpha-glucosidase with EC(50 values lower than that found for acarbose Mild effects on cholinesterases were observed with the certified samples while commercial ones were more effective The same behaviour was observed concerning the scavenging of DPPH nitric oxide and superoxide radicals The presence of high contents of quercetin derivatives in commercial samples seems to directly influence their biological properties The differences between phenolic profiles and their relation with the authenticity of commercial samples are discussed.