Characterization and quantitation of anthocyanins in purple-fleshed sweet potatoes cultivated in Korea by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS.

The characterization and quantitative analysis of anthocyanins in four purple-fleshed sweet potato varieties (Borami, Mokpo 62, Shinzami, and Zami) cultivated in Korea were carried out by HPLC/diode array detector (DAD), HPLC-TOF/MS, and HPLC-MS/MS analyses. For the identification of anthocyanins, molecular formulas were first calculated by using the exact mass data of the molecular ions ([M](+)). The patterns of isotope ions of M(+) were also monitored to confirm the assignment of the molecular formulas.