A comparative assessment of the LC-MS profiles and cluster analysis of four Centaurea species from Turkey

The present study was designed to delineate the chemical characterization of four Centaurea species sampled from Turkey. The chemical profiles were determined by UHPLC-ESI/HRMS and multiple correspondence analysis were carried out to observe variabilities of the tested extracts. To study the variability of the four samples, 16 qualitative variables represented by the 16 compounds (some acylquinic acids including 3-Caffeoylquinic, 5-Caffeoylquinic and 5-Feruloylquinic acids) have been used to perform the multiple correspondence analysis. There groups were recorded in the cluster analysis. The first group is represented by C. urvielli subsp. hayekiana and C. kotschi var. persica species while the second and third group is composed of C. drabifolia subsp. detonsa and C. patula, respectively. Finding presented herein has established baseline data that could spark further studies on the pharmacological potential of these Centaurea species.