Zulema Piñeiro

Stability of phenolic compounds during extraction with superheated solvents

The stability of nine phenolic compounds in the extraction with superheated methanol at different temperatures (40, 50, 100 and 150 degrees C) has been tested. The evolution of the same compounds in boiling methanol (65 degrees C) in contact with air was also determined. All the assayed phenolic compounds were stable under the extraction conditions with the exception of catechin and epicatechin (recoveries: 87.4% for catechin and 86.0% for epicatechin at 150 degrees C and 94.1% for epicatechin at 100 degrees C). Phenolic compounds kept at the boiling point of methanol (65 degrees C) showed lower recoveries: gentisic acid (85.5%), syringic aldehyde (92.8%), catechin (63.7%) and epicatechin (63.4%). Extraction with superheated solvents was also applied to the extraction of phenolic compounds from solid wastes of the winemaking process.

In-line pressurized-fluid extraction-solid-phase extraction for determining phenolic compounds in grapes

A new method of pressurized-fluid extraction coupled in-line with solid-phase extraction has been used for the extraction of phenolic compounds from grapes. The full extraction method is performed under an inert atmosphere. Five different solvents have been assayed using different extraction pressures and temperatures. Using two extraction stages with two different solvents, water and methanol, quantitative recovery for most of the assayed compounds has been found in the second extract. Only the most polar phenolic compound, gallic acid, was found distributed in both extracts. The application to real samples allows for a clean-up of the extracts. Cinnamic esters like caftaric acid, cis and trans-coutaric acids were found only in the methanolic extract. The reproducibility for the new method was measured using both an inert solid spiked with standards and grapes. Using between 202 and 424 microg of spiked standards, the resulting relative standard deviations were less than 5%, with the exception of gallic acid (RSD=13%). For grapes, the resulting RSD were 11% for trans-coutaric acid, 10% for caftaric acid and 6% for cis-coutaric acid.

Direct Liquid Chromatography Method for the Simultaneous Quantification of Hydroxytyrosol and Tyrosol in Red Wines

A validated HPLC method with fluorescence detection for the simultaneous quantification of hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol in red wines is described. Detection conditions for both compounds were optimized (excitation at 279 and 278 and emission at 631 and 598 nm for hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, respectively). The validation of the analytical method was based on selectivity, linearity, robustness, detection and quantification limits, repeatability, and recovery. The detection and quantification limits in red wines were set at 0.023 and 0.076 mg L(-1) for hydroxytyrosol and at 0.007 and 0.024 mg L(-1) for tyrosol determination, respectively. Precision values, both within-day and between-day (n = 5), remained below 3% for both compounds. In addition, a fractional factorial experimental design was developed to analyze the influence of six different conditions on analysis. The final optimized HPLC-fluorescence method allowed the analysis of 30 nonpretreated Spanish red wines to evaluate their hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol contents.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Stilbenes from Grape Canes.

An analytical ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method has been optimized and validated for the rapid extraction of stilbenes from grape canes. The influence of sample pre-treatment (oven or freeze-drying) and several extraction variables (solvent, sample-solvent ratio and extraction time between others) on the extraction process were analyzed. The new method allowed the main stilbenes in grape canes to be extracted in just 10 min, with an extraction temperature of 75 °C and 60% ethanol in water as the extraction solvent. Validation of the extraction method was based on analytical properties. The resulting RSDs (n = 5) for interday/intraday precision were less than 10%. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied in the analysis of 20 different grape cane samples. The result showed that grape cane byproducts are potentially sources of bioactive compounds of interest for pharmaceutical and food industries.