Highlights

• Scientists utilized advanced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques to profile and identify 161 bioactive compounds in aged Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), including 39 newly reported phenolic acids.
• Dynamic changes revealed phenolic acids, with various potential activities, increase with storage time.
• Correlation studies between phenolic acid levels and antioxidant activities supported the traditional view that more extended storage leads to improved medicinal properties of CRP.

Summary

This study investigates the impact of long-term storage on the quality of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the dried tangerine pericarp. To identify the specific bioactive compounds influencing CRP’s quality over time, the research employed advanced derivatization and non-derivatization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques.

The analysis revealed a total of 161 compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and amino acids. Phenolic acids, in particular, showed a significant increase during storage and were closely linked to enhanced antioxidant activities, suggesting they could be markers of aging-related quality improvement in CRP. This insight is crucial for establishing quality control measures for CRP and highlights the potential health benefits of long-stored CRP.

The study concludes that specific phenolic acids, not previously reported in CRP, are primary contributors to its antioxidant properties and improved quality through aging.

X. Bian et al., “Dynamic changes of phenolic acids and antioxidant activity of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium during aging processes,” Food Chemistry, vol. 373, p. 131399, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131399.