Structural Studies on Diverse Betacyanin Classes in Matured Pigment-Rich Fruits of Basella alba L. and Basella alba L. var. 'Rubra' (Malabar Spinach)

Identification of betacyanins in Basella alba L. and Basella alba L. var. 'Rubra' fruits was performed by low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS and HRMS) as well as H-1, C-13 and two-dimensional NMR which revealed hitherto completely not known betacyanin classes in the plant kingdom. Especially, the presence of unique nitrogenous acyl moieties in the structures of the pigments was ascertained by the HRMS Orbitrap detection. Except for detected polar betacyanin glycosylated derivatives, presence of a series of previously not reported pigments such as malonylated betanidin 6-O-beta-glusosides with their acyl migration isomers along with the evidence of the 3 ''-hydroxy-butyrylated betacyanins is reported. The first complete NMR data were obtained for novel and principal acylated gomphrenins with hydroxycinnamic acids: 6 '-O-E-caffeoyl-gomphrenin (malabarin), 6 '-O-E-sinapoyl-gomphrenin (gandolin), 6 '-O-E-4-coumaroyl-gomphrenin (globosin) and 6 '-O-E-feruloyl-gomphrenin (basellin).