The red color of mature acerola is due to the presence of anthocyanins. These pigments were extracted and purified from 12 genotypes cultivated at the Active Germoplasm Bank of the Rural Federal University of Pernambuco in order to determine their composition. The aglycon forms of the anthocyanins were revealed by acid hydrolysis. Anthocyanins and anthocyanidins were separated by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C18 reversed phase analytical column. Anthocyanidins were identified by comparing HPLC elution order and retention times relative to authentic standards and to anthocyanidins obtained from acid hydrolysis of Isabel, Patrícia and Red Globe grapes, plum, red onion, strawberry and Tommy Atkins mango skin. The chromatograms showed that the acerola genotype anthocyanins profile is simple, showing three to five peaks, similar between them. After the acid hydrolysis, the chromatograms revealed the presence of two aglycons which were identified as cyanidin and pelargonidin. By comparing chromatograms of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins and analyzing the retention times, the presence of anthocyanins with different glycosylation patterns and the absence of acylation in their molecules could be clearly seen. The aglycons identified (cyanidin and pelargonidin) were found in different proportions in these acerola genotypes.
anthocyanidins; Malpighia emarginata D.C.; genotypes; high performance liquid chromatography
