Identification of Vaccinium spp. L. (Ericaceae) natural health products from North Eastern North America and Europe by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy
Identification of Vaccinium spp. L. (Ericaceae) natural health products from North Eastern North America and Europe by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy
Vaccinium spp. L. (Blueberries, Cranberries, and Bilberries) of the Ericaceae family have been used traditionally by indigenous cultures of the Circumboreal Region for treating a variety of disease conditions. Evaluation of the constituents in extracts from various Vaccinium species show variation in the quantities of the bioactive compounds. This study uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) Spectroscopy for evaluating metabolomes from crude botanical extracts to produce information on (1) the taxonomic identity of the plant through NMR Fingerprinting and (2) quantities of bioactive metabolites from plants for an NMR based methodology for natural product quality control. Several populations of 11 Vaccinium species were collected in Canada and Former Yugoslavia, and prepared as alcohol extracts prior to analysis by 1H NMR. Chemometric analysis of the NMR spectral data clearly differentiate populations of V. angustifolium, V. boreale, V. corymbosum, V. macrocarpon, V. myrtilloides, V. myrtillus, V. ovalifolium, and V. uliginosum to circumscribed species and establishes metabolomic standards in relation to source environments.