Identification of isomers of resveratrol dimer and their analogues from wine grapes by HPLC/MSn and HPLC/DAD-UV

Ultraviolet C irradiation enhances the resistance of grape against postharvest black rot (Aspergillus carbonarius) by regulating the synthesis of phenolic compounds

UV-C irradiation can maintain fruit quality by inducing fruit disease resistance and reducing decay during storage. Grape (Vitis Vinifera L.) was exposed to 2.4 kJ m-2 UV-C irradiation then inoculated with Aspergillus carbonarius to investigate the changes in nutritional quality, defense related substances and enzyme activities. Postharvest UV-C irradiation can increased the levels of defense-related substances and enzyme activities, such as phenols, flavanols, lignin, proline, glutathione, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU). In addition, Resveratrol plays an important role in grape resistance to A. carbonarius infection through further verification by gene expression levels, the transcription factors VvWRKY24 and VvMYB14 are highly correlated with the regulation of VvSTS gene expression. This study revealed the molecular mechanism of postharvest grape fruit response to UV-C irradiation and the defense mechanism against black rot, and provided a theoretical basis for postharvest grape storage and preservation technology.

Changes in Polyphenolic Compounds of Hutai No. 8 Grapes during Low-Temperature Storage and Their Shelf-Life Prediction by Identifying Biomarkers

The aim of this experiment was to assess the effect of different storage temperatures on the texture quality, phenolic profile, and antioxidant capacity of a grape. Fresh grapes were stored at 4 and 25 °C for nine days and sampled on alternate days. The hardness, total phenolics, total flavanones, total flavanols, total anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, differential metabolite screening, and key gene expression were evaluated. In addition, four phenolic compounds were screened out as differential metabolites in response to storage temperature by OPLS-DA analysis. The results showed that the fruit firmness was better maintained in low-temperature storage and the storage life was longer than that at 25 °C. During the whole storage process, the contents of phenolics, flavanones, flavanols, and anthocyanins all showed an increasing trend first and then decreased regardless of what temperature. Since the antioxidant capacity of a grape was positively correlated with the contents of total phenols and total flavonoids, the same trend was also shown. However, the grape's phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity were higher at 25 °C than at 4 °C. Furthermore, through qualitative and quantitative analysis of 16 monomeric phenols, this study selected catechin, 1-O-vanilloyl-β-d-glucose, p-coumaric acid 4-glucoside, and resveratrol-3-O-glucoside as the main differentially expressed metabolites at the two temperatures. In conclusion, for a short shelf life or immediate consumption, keeping grapes at room temperature is more beneficial to obtain high antioxidants. However, if the goal is to prolong the storage period of the fruit, keeping the fruit at 4 °C is recommended.

Resveratrol: Its Path from Isolation to Therapeutic Action in Eye Diseases

Due to the confirmed therapeutic potential of resveratrol (Rv) for eye diseases, namely its powerful anti-angiogenic and antioxidant effects, this molecule must be studied more deeply. Nowadays, the pharmaceutic and pharmacokinetic available studies offer a troubling picture because of its low stability and bioavailability. To overcome this problem, researchers started to design and create different delivery systems that could improve the delivery amount of Rv. Therefore, this review aims to shed light on the proper and efficient techniques to isolate, purify and quantify the Rv molecule, and how this therapeutic molecule can be a part of a delivery system. The Rv great impact on aspects regarding its stability, bioavailability and absorption are also debated here, based on the existent literature on in vitro and in vivo human and animal studies. Moreover, after its absorption the Rv influence at the molecular level in ocular pathologies is described. In addition, the present review summarizes the available literature about Rv, hoping that Rv will gain more attention to investigate its unexplored side.

Trans-resveratrol electrochemical detection using portable device based on unmodified screen-printed electrode

Trans-resveratrol (t-RESV) is an important and natural polyphenolic antioxidant generally found in grapes and in its derivatives such as red wine and grape juices. The t-RESV has been explored in the pharmaceutical industry for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective properties. The t-RESV electrochemical determination has basically been carried out using modified electrodes-based sensors. Although these devices show good analytical performance, the electrode preparation can be laborious, and the devices may lack reproducibility. In this sense, it was proposed here a new methodology for the t-RESV electrochemical detection using unmodified screen-printed electrodes and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The response of the anodic signal has optimized varying the most important parameters of DPV (pulse time, pulse potential, and pulse step) using the response surface methodology. We showed based on analysis of variance that the new mathematical model developed can predict responses for the t-RESV using DPV. Furthermore, the new analytical method was validated from the limits of detection and quantification. We have still shown that t-RESV can be quantified in commercial drug using DPV with the optimized parameters. The selectivity test also showed that the sensor can be used to determine the antioxidant in other more complex matrices. Additionally, the proposed electrochemical system is completely portable and can work with its own energy, which facilitates point-of-care analysis.

Grape bioactive molecules, and the potential health benefits in reducing the risk of heart diseases

Grapes are a rich source of bioactive molecules including phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, stilbenes, and lipids. These are the compounds which contribute to the health benefits of grape and grape-derived products. They possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic activities and have wide applications in food and nutraceutical industries. Use of grape extracts rich in these bioactive compounds are linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and its major risk factors including hypertension (high blood pressure); a clinical condition associated with high mortality worldwide. Therefore, considerable attention has been given to grape-based products to alleviate and treat hypertension. The aim of this review is to summarize the bioactive compounds of grapes, composition changes in different grape extracts and the potential benefits in reducing hypertension.

Evaluation of trans-resveratrol level in grape wine using laser-induced porous graphene-based electrochemical sensor

trans-Resveratrol (TRA), is one of the indicators to evaluate the quality of red wines. In this study, a novel flexible electrochemical sensor using direct laser-induced graphene (LIG) technique that transforms the commercial Kapton tape into three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene was developed for sensitive detection of TRA molecules in red wines. For the first time, the strategy of 'double layer' (Kapton/polyimide) was employed to obtain the LIG with undamaged shape and excellent electrical properties. The mechanism of heat absorption and dissipation of laser-induced process was investigated in detail. The prepared electrochemical sensor with excellent repeatability, stability, reproducibility, and reliability, appears an excellent linear response within the TRA concentration range from 0.2 to 50 μmol L^-1 and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 μmol L^-1. Furthermore, the developed sensor can be applied for the evaluation of TRA level in red wines and grape skins with a satisfactory result. The sensor may be potential in analysis of active compounds in food or environmental samples.

Phenolic Profile of Grape Canes: Novel Compounds Identified by LC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS

Grape canes (Vitis vinifera L.) are a viticulture industry by-product with an important content of secondary metabolites, mainly polyphenols with a broad spectrum of demonstrated health benefits. Grape canes, therefore, have considerable economic potential as a source of high-value phytochemicals. In this work, liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization hybrid linear trap quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-LTQ-Orbitrap) was used for the comprehensive identification of polyphenolic compounds in grape canes. Identification of polyphenols was performed by comparing their retention times, accurate mass measured, and mass fragmentation patterns with those of reference substances or available data in the literature. A total of 75 compounds were identified, including phenolic acids, flavanols, flavonols, flavanonols, flavanones, and stilbenoids. The most abundant polyphenols were proanthocyanidins and stilbenoids and their oligomers. Moreover, the high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis revealed the occurrence of 17 polyphenols never described before in grape canes, thereby providing a more complete polyphenolic profile of this potentially valuable by-product.

Regulation of resveratrol O-methyltransferase gene in pterostilbene defensing the sour rot of wine grape

Sour rot, caused by Geotrichum citriaurantii (G. citri-aurantii.), is one of the most serious grapevine secondary infection diseases in China. We have determined that pterostilbene, the most important phytoalexin, effectively inhibits the activity of G. citri-aurantii. To study the synthesis mechanism of pterostilbene against G. citri-aurantii in grape, we initially detected the content of pterostilbene present in grapes infected by G. citri-aurantii with the use of UHPLC-QQQ-MS² . Pterostilbene levels are controlled by the resveratrol O-methyltransferase (ROMT) gene, and within grape samples is positively related to the accumulation of resveratrol. The pPIC9k-ROMT vector and plasmid pCAMBIA2300-GFP-ROMT were constructed for expression purposes. The pPIC9k-ROMT vector was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 and plasmid pCAMBIA2300-GFP-ROMT was expressed in onion. Analysis of qRT-PCR amplification samples revealed that gene expression was induced rapidly in grape as a defense against G. citri-aurantii. Western blot analysis verified that the recombinant protein was successfully expressed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Pterostilbene is a trace and efficient phytoalexins produced by plant' secondary metabolism, which exhibits good pharmacological activity. As an important protective agent in plants, it can improve the antioxidant capacity and resistance to adversity of plants. However, the method which could be used for mass production of pterostilbene has not been reported currently. The key gene of pterostilbene biosynthesis was investigated and verified in this paper, which provides the theoretical basis for the industrial production of pterostilbene. The study of pterostilbene is significant for the prevention and treatment of G. citri-aurantii disease, and has important practical applications for the development and production of pesticides.

Detection of Biomedically Relevant Stilbenes from Wines by Mass Spectrometry

Stilbenes represent a class of compounds with a common 1,2-diphenylethylene backbone that have shown extraordinary potential in the biomedical field. As the most well-known example, resveratrol proved to have anti-aging effects and significant potential in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer. Mass spectrometry is an analytical method of critical importance in all studies related to stilbenes that are important in the biomedical field. From the discovery of new natural compounds and mapping the grape metabolome up to advanced investigations of stilbenes' potential for the protection of human health in clinical studies, mass spectrometry has provided critical analytical information. In this review we focus on various approaches related to mass spectrometry for the detection of stilbenes-such as coupling with chromatographic separation methods and direct infusion-with presentation of some illustrative applications. Clearly, the potential of mass spectrometry for assisting in the discovery of new stilbenes of biomedical importance, elucidating their mechanisms of action and quantifying minute quantities in complex matrices is far from being exhausted.

Novel electrochemical sensing platform based on integration of molecularly imprinted polymer with Au@Ag hollow nanoshell for determination of resveratrol

An electrochemical sensor is developed based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and Au@Ag hollow nanoshell modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes (MIP/Au@Ag/ITO) for resveratrol (Res) determination. Au@Ag bimetallic hollow nanoshells were prepared by electrodeposition, and followed with a simple replacement reaction. A layer of MIP was then synthesized in situ on the Au@Ag surface by electro-polymerization, with Res acting as template molecule and o-phenylenediamine as functional monomer. Hexacyanoferrate was used as electrochemical probe to generate signals, and the electrochemical behaviors of Res-MIP/Au@Ag/ITO were explored by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A linear range from 2.0 × 10^-11 to 9.0 × 10^-9 M for measuring Res was obtained, with a low detection limit of 7.1 × 10^-12 M (S/N = 3). With good stability and selectivity, this newly developed sensor has been successfully applied to Res measurement in grape seed extract.

Using the relative abundance of characteristic product ions in UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS2 methods to identify isomers of resveratrol oligomers in extracts of Xinjiang winegrape stems

Stilbenoids, particularly resveratrol and its oligomer, are abundantly present in grapes, and their antioxidant activities have been widely reported. A quick and simple method based on UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS² was established for the fragmentation pathways analysis of trans-ε-Viniferin, cis-ε-Viniferin, trans-δ-Viniferin and (-)-Hopeaphenol. MS/MS experiments on the [M-H]^- ions provided abundant structural information, especially regarding the relative abundance of the key product ion at m/z 347. The product ion was used to further identify structures in isomers of resveratrol dimers and its analogues. Based on the fragmentation pathways, we tentatively determined two compounds from the crude extracts of Xinjiang winegrape stems as Gnetin C and cis-Scirpusin A. Results from these experiments contribute to a more complete understanding of the stilbene compounds found in grape stems. The UHPLC-QTOF-MS² method can be used for the rapid analysis of stilbenes compounds in plant materials, foods and wine.

Oligostilbenoids in Vitis vinifera L. Pinot Noir grape cane extract: Isolation, characterization, in vitro antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative effect on cancer cells

The following oligostilbenoids were isolated from extracts of Vitis vinifera L. Pinot Noir grape canes produced at a pilot-plant scale: (E)-ε-viniferin, (E)-resveratrol, (E)-piceatannol, ampelopsin A, vitisin B, pallidol, (E)-δ-viniferin, (E)-ω-viniferin, (E)-trans-cis-miyabenol C, isorhapontigenin, scirpusin A, and a new isomer named isoscirpusin A. The antioxidant capacity of the isolated stilbenoids was studied by three different assays, and their 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) against cancer cells was determined by MTT reduction assay. Besides (E)-resveratrol, stilbenoids have outstanding antioxidant capacity in the ORAC-FL assay. The strongest antiproliferative effect was observed for (E)-piceatannol and ampelopsin A against the bladder cancer cell line J82. (E)-Piceatannol has inhibitory effect on human lung cancer SK-MES-1 cells. Moreover, the whole extract has antiproliferative effect on all tested cell lines. In conclusion, beside (E)-resveratrol, grape cane extract contains oligostilbenoids with potential health benefits. This underexploited viticultural residue has the potential to produce valuable phytochemicals or ingredients in functional foods.

Electrochemical Evaluation of trans-Resveratrol Levels in Red Wine Based on the Interaction between Resveratrol and Graphene

trans-Resveratrol is often considered as one of the quality standards of red wine, and the development of a sensitive and reliable method for monitoring the trans-resveratrol levels in red wine is an urgent requirement for the quality control. Here, a novel voltammetric approach was described for probing trans-resveratrol using a graphene-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The proposed electrode was prepared by one-step electrodeposition of reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) at a GC electrode. Compared with the bare GC electrode, the introduced graphene film on the electrode surface dramatically improved the sensitivity of the sensor response due to the π-π interaction between the graphene and trans-resveratrol. The developed sensor exhibited low detection limit of 0.2 μM with wide linear range of 0.8-32 μM and high stability. For the analysis of trans-resveratrol in red wine, the high anti-interference ability and the good recoveries indicated the great potential for practical applications.

A High-Throughput UHPLC-QqQ-MS Method for Polyphenol Profiling in Rosé Wines

A rapid, sensitive and selective analysis method using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) has been developed for the quantification of polyphenols in rosé wines. The compound detection being based on specific MS transitions in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode, the present method allows the selective quantification of up to 152 phenolic and two additional non-phenolic wine compounds in 30 min without sample purification or pre-concentration, even at low concentration levels. This method was repeatably applied to a set of 12 rosé wines and thus proved to be suitable for high-throughput and large-scale metabolomics studies.

Jasmonates elicit different sets of stilbenes in Vitis vinifera cv. Negramaro cell cultures

The plant phenol trans-resveratrol, which is mainly found in grape, displays a wide range of biological effects. A cell suspension culture was developed from calli of grape leaves of Vitis vinifera cv. Negramaro in order to study the bioproduction of resveratrol. The effects of a number of secondary plant metabolism elicitors, namely chitosan, methyl jasmonate, jasmonic acid, coronatine, and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, were tested on this cell suspension culture. The identification and quantification of stilbenes was achieved with high performance liquid chromatography, with both spectrophotometric and mass spectrometric detection. Of the tested elicitors, methyl jasmonate was the most effective in inducing the biosynthesis of approximately 4 mg g⁻¹ dry weight (about 60 mg L⁻¹) of resveratrol. Conversely, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, jasmonic acid, and coronatine were able to trigger the synthesis of approximately 20 mg g⁻¹ dry weight (200–210 mg L⁻¹) of viniferins. Taken together, our results show for the first time different modulatory effects of closely-related jasmonates on stilbene biosynthesis.

Analysis of the phenolic composition of fungus-resistant grape varieties cultivated in Italy and Germany using UHPLC-MS/MS

The phenolic composition of grape berries grown in Italy (Cabernet Cortis, Johanniter, Solaris, Phoenix, and Regent) and in Germany (Regent and Phoenix) was analyzed using two complementary LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry) methods. These five cultivars belong to fungus-resistant grape varieties (PIWI) and little is known about their phenolic profile, although phenolics such as phytoalexins have been recognized, playing a key role in the resistance mechanism. A triple quadruple mass spectrometer detector was used for both identification and quantification, and analytical tools from untargeted metabolomics were applied to check and control the quality of the results. Specifically, biological, technical, and instrumental replications were included in order to study the variability at different levels. The results allowed tuning of the sampling protocol and provided a rich phenolic metabolite profile for the aforementioned PIWI varieties, as compared with Vitis vinifera cultivars, especially in the class of stilbenes.

Investigation of monomeric and oligomeric wine stilbenoids in red wines by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Stilbenoids are secondary plant metabolites responsible for the protection of multiple plant species including grape vine from bacterial and fungal infection. Red wine has been shown to be a major source of these compounds in the human diet, where they display an array of health benefits. Providing a more complete profile of the stilbenoids present in red wine, this study detects 41 stilbenoid compounds, 23 of which have never before been detected in red wine.

METHODS

Red wine extracts were scanned using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass analyzer. Multiple targeted MS/MS precursor ion scan experiments were performed using electrospray ionization operated in negative mode. Precursor ion masses were scanned for the monomeric and oligomeric stilbenoids, as well as modifications such as O-glycosylation, methoxylation and oxidation products of these compounds. Accurate mass precursor and characteristic product ions afforded partial structural elucidation and assignment of these compounds.

RESULTS

A total of 41 (both known and novel) stilbenoids were detected in extracted red wine. In addition to the well-known monomeric stilbenes, several resveratrol-resveratrol homodimers (m/z 453.1344), resveratrol-piceatannol heterodimers (m/z 469.1293) and piceatannol-piceatannol homodimers (m/z 485.1236) were detected. Modified dimers of resveratrol including O-glycosylated (m/z 615.1872), methoxylated (m/z 485.1606) and oxidized (m/z 471.1449) dimers were also detected. Multiple trimers of resveratrol (m/z 679.1978) were detected for the first time in red wine, as well as some known and some novel stilbenoid tetramers (m/z 905.2604).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, 41 stilbenoids were detected in red wine, 23 for the first time. Both monomeric and oligomeric stilbenoids were partially identified and assigned by their accurate mass precursor ions and characteristic stilbenoid fragmentation patterns. Knowledge gained from these experiments contributes to a more complete understanding of the origin of the beneficial properties of red wine.

Chemical dereplication of wine stilbenoids using high performance liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Wine is a major dietary source of numerous potentially health promoting stilbenoids that have been the subject of many qualitative and quantitative studies. However, our initial HPLC-MS analyses of crude wine samples demonstrated the presence of compounds with molecular weights matching characteristic stilbenoid dimers, trimers, and tetramers that were unaccounted for in the literature. Due to the likelihood that these are known compounds, a chemical dereplication method is highly desirable. We developed such a method using LC-DAD-MS monitored fractionation steps, using adsorption and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), to obtain fractions rich in stilbenoids for analysis in stopped-flow LC-NMR. (1)H NMR spectra and MS data were cross-referenced with our laboratory database and the literature for identification. This method yielded highly useful structural information, allowing the characterization of previously unidentified stilbenoids in wine, ampelopsin C, isohopeaphenol, quadrangularin A, and E-ω-viniferin. These results demonstrate the usefulness of stop-flow LC-NMR in conjunction with LC-MS guided fractionation for the dereplication of compounds of interest in general, and specifically for expanding the current knowledge of wine chemistry.

Optimization, in-house validation, and application of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based method for the quantification of selected polyphenolic compounds in leaves of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

Polyphenols in grapevine can be constitutive or induced, depending upon cultivar, plant organ, and environmental influences. The aim of the presented work was to develop and optimize a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to study the pattern and amount of selected polyphenols in leaves of Vitis vinifera L. The method is simple and does not require any sample cleanup. It covers representative metabolites of the structure classes cinnamic acids, flavonoids, and stilbenes and enables the simultaneous separation and quantification of 13 polyphenols within 9 min at concentration levels between 0.1 and 3 μg/g. We present the method performance characteristics and its application to the quantification of polyphenols in grapevine leaves of the cultivars Riesling and Pinot noir. A total of 7 of 13 target polyphenols were detected at concentrations above the limits of quantification. Interestingly, instead of the expected trans-resveratrol, the investigated leaf samples of both cultivars contained cis-resveratrol-3-O-glucoside. The measurements also showed that Riesling leaves tended to contain higher concentrations of the selected polyphenols than Pinot noir. In view of its intended future use, the developed method has been shown to be a powerful and fast tool to study polyphenols in grapevine leaves subjected to environmental stress conditions.