UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based targeted phenolic profiling and chemometric characterization of walnut<i> (Juglans</i><i> regia</i> L.) cultivars: A comparative study from the Anatolian region
FOOD CHEMISTRY, vol.525, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 525
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.150295
- Journal Name: FOOD CHEMISTRY
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Keywords: Catechin, Cultivars, Ellagic acid, HCA, PCA, Walnut (Juglans regia L.)
- Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Considering that Anatolia, T & uuml;rkiye, is a primary gene center for walnut (Juglans regia L.), investigating phenolic profile variability is important for germplasm characterization and understanding compositional differences among walnut cultivars. This study evaluated 41 walnut samples representing ten cultivars using targeted phenolic profiling by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS combined with chemometric analysis. Ten major phenolic compounds were quantified, with ellagic acid and catechin identified as predominant quantified compounds, exhibiting wide concentration ranges (12,844.6-248,722.8 mu g/kg DM and 4215.1-78,818.0 mu g/kg DM, respectively), indicating pronounced compositional variability. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed exploratory grouping trends associated with cultivar and geographical origin. Significant intracultivar variability among different growing locations suggests that environmental and agronomic factors may contribute to the observed differences in phenolic profiles. Integrating high-resolution LC-MS profiling with multivariate statistics provides a promising chemometric approach for exploring phenolic variability and differentiation trends among Anatolian walnut cultivars from selected international reference samples.