Dereplication of Palicourea sessilis ethanol extracts by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS discloses the presence of hydroxycinnamic acid amides and the absence of monoterpene indole alkaloids

Secondary metabolites characterization of ethanol extracts of Palicourea sessilis leaves and stems by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS led to putative identification of hydrolysable tannins in leaf extract (ESI negative mode) while hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCA) such as N-p-coumaroylputrescine and N-feruloylagmatine were detected in both leaf and stems extracts in the ESI positive mode. Secondary metabolites quantification data showed a higher content of total phenolic in the leaf extract while the total alkaloids contents are statistically equivalent in both of the extracts. Furthermore, monoterpene indole alkaloids were not detected in both extracts. The presence of HCA is here firstly reported for a Palicourea species. This finding increases the classes of secondary metabolites occurring in this genus. [Display omitted] •HCA and tannins were putative identified by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS.•HCA are by the first time reported in Palicourea species.•Would HCA represent a new chemotaxonomic marker for the Palicourea genus?