Bioactive activities and chemical profile characterization using paper spray mass spectrometry of extracts of Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. leaves

Rationale The loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a fruit tree that has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years for the treatment of various diseases. The loquat leaf extracts contain several bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and identification of these substances using quick and simple methods has been an analytical trend. Methods The influence of dehydration of loquat leaves (without drying, at 40°C, and at 60°C), the type of solvent (ethanol and methanol), and the method of extraction (shaking and ultrasound) on obtaining extracts containing phenolic compounds and substances with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties was evaluated. The chemical constituents of an extract were identified using paper spray mass spectrometry (PS‐MS). Results The extract obtained from the dehydrated leaves at 40°C presented the best results. The extracts obtained from these leaves and with ethanol had the highest values of total phenolics and antioxidant activities, but the methanolic extract subjected to ultrasound had the highest levels of chlorogenic, caffeic, and ellagic acids. All extracts evaluated inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus . Using the PS‐MS technique, it was possible to identify the presence of 49 substances such as organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sugars, quinones, and terpenes. Conclusions In general, extracts of dehydrated leaves at 40°C and extracted with ethanol using ultrasound can be considered a good source of bioactive compounds with potential applications as functional ingredients or additives in the food and pharmaceutical industries. PS‐MS was demonstrated to be a simple and ultrafast technique to obtain the chemical profile of the loquat leaf extract.