Quantification of anthocyanins in blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) by modified QuEChERS and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Anthocyanins are among the most extensively investigated class of bioflavonoids in plant and fruit products due to their widespread presence in nature and their antioxidant activity. A method based on a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method (QuEChERS) was developed for the determination of six common types of anthocyanins in blueberries using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The QuEChERS procedure was optimized in the dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) for obtaining the targeted anthocyanins. This method provided the quantitative ranges between 2.5 and 1,000 μg L⁻¹ (R² > 0.9974) for the target analytes with satisfactory recoveries and precisions. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of anthocyanins in blueberries from different countries and the total anthocyanins concentrations were in the range from 926.5 to 2074.6 μg kg⁻¹. This proposed method provided an efficient and sensitive approach for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the common anthocyanins in blueberry samples.