## 3 Results and Discussion
### LC-MS Profile
vulgare_ are affluent in flavonoids (56% in YF\({}_{Lv}\), 67% in GF\({}_{Lv}\), and 58% in L\({}_{Lv}\)), specialized metabolites associated with several health benefits [34], although the major compound in all plant parts is gallic acid, 9.85 \(\pm\) 0.06, 9.21 \(\pm\) 0.09, and 15.44 \(\pm\) 1.01 mg/g of the dry plant, respectively, in YF\({}_{Lv}\), GF\({}_{Lv}\), and L\({}_{Lv}\). Though, it should be highlighted that this metabolite is recognized for its health-promoting effects [35], contributing, with its presence in _L. vulgare_ aerial parts, to the plant nutritional value. The main flavonoids present are flavone and flavonoid derivatives (Figure 5), with the myricetin derivatives being the most abundant, 66% in YF\({}_{Lv}\), 51% in GF\({}_{Lv}\), and 63% in L\({}_{Lv}\) (Table 2). Myricetin is also the major aglycone present in all plant parts analyzed (4.73 \(\pm\) 0.15 mg/g of the dry plant in YF\({}_{Lv}\), 4.48 \(\pm\) 0.05 mg/g of the dry plant in GF\({}_{Lv}\) and 9.69 \(\pm\) 0.11 mg/g of the dry plant in L\({}_{Lv}\)). This richness in myricetin derivatives, as well as other flavonoids, was detected in other _Limonium_ species although the studies were qualitative [8; 36; 37]; however, in a previous study with halophytes collected in the same region, we also detected that flavonoids are the major metabolites [38]. Moreover, in some phytochemical studies, using other _Limonium_ species, several myricetin derivatives were isolated [10; 11]; these results support our identification. The aglycones were mainly identified using standard compounds; nevertheless, the specific ion fragments [39; 40; 41], shown in the baicalein structure (Figure 5), were found to help the identification. In the case of the glycoside derivatives, whi  
Figure 4: UHPLC-DAD chromatograms of the \(L\). _vulgare_ ethanol extract, recorded at \(\uplambda\) = 280 nm. Figure 5: Chemical structure of the flavonoid aglycones and their most significant fragments. available, the literature data [39; 42; 43], as well as our previous experience [44], were the most valuable tools for the identification. Apigenin 7-(acetylglucoside) was assigned because of the observation of the ion fragment at \(m/z\) 430, which can be obtained through a loss of an acetyl moiety (Table 2). Simultaneously, the loss of \(m/z\) 221 and 205, suggesting the cleavage of acetylglucose with or without the oxygen atom, confirms the compound structure. Naturally, there are no shreds of evidence where the acetyl group is attached; both apigenin 7-(2\"-acetylglucoside) and apigenin 7-(6\"-acetylglucoside) were previously found in plants [45] (p. 84). Finally, we can highlight the identification of the myricetin 3-(galloylrhammoside) three isomers, specialized metabolites previously found in other plants [45] (p. 538). In all of these isomers, the loss of the galloyl and gallate moieties and the galloylrhammose moiety were detected (Table 2). Again, it was not possible to establish the galloyl moiety position, although the three possible isomers, myricetin 3-(2\"-galloylrhammoside), myricetin 3-(3\"-galloylrhammoside), and myricetin 3-(4\"-galloylrhammoside), could be detected. The richness of _L. Vulgare_'s aerial parts in flavonoids herein established agrees with the fact that the salinity stress increases the flavonoid production [36; 46]. Moreover, this richness, as well as several of the specialized metabolites herein reported, were detected in another _Limonium_ species [36; 37]. However, quantifications concerning these metabolites were not previously reported for _Limonium_ species, making this the first study involving quantification. Considering the specialized metabolites herein reported, for the first time in _L. vulgare_, particularly the flavonoids, for which several biological properties have been established [47; 48], it seems evident that this species can be used as food additives and to produce bioactive compounds. Myricetin and its derivatives can be highlighted because of their amounts in _L. vulgare_'s aerial parts.