Extraction, characterization, and anti-aging evaluation of flavonoids from Citrus reticulata ‘Zhangshuensis’

ZhangTouHong (ZTH), a highly valuable edible-medicinal resource rich in bioactive flavonoids, has little been studied in terms of its chemical composition and biological activities. In this work, a process was developed for the preparation of flavonoid multi-components (FMCs) from ZTH, which showed high efficiency and specificity and a 4.62-fold increased total flavonoid content. Based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and molecular networks, the FMCs in ZTH were identified for the first time, with a total of 48 flavonoid compounds, including 3 potential new compounds. Moreover, the results of anti-aging activity tests demonstrated that the FMCs have excellent antioxidant activity and anti-aging capacity, extending the lifespan of nematodes by 21.65% and the survival time of oxidative stress in nematodes by 35.71%. In summary, this study established an efficient and scalable process for the preparation of bioactive flavonoid components and, for the first time, verified the anti-aging effect of ZTH FMCs, providing the scientific basis for the deep development and industrial application of this characteristic citrus resource.