Flavan-3-ol monomers and dimers were found to inhibit more efficiently LDL oxidation than trimers and tetramers ( Plumb, De Pascual-Teresa, Santos-Buelga, Cheynier, & Williamson, 1998). According to some authors, the presence of prodelphinidin increases the antioxidant capacity of PAs due to the increase in the reactive hydroxyl number (Rice-Evans et al., 1996). In this study, high amounts of %P were observed and this probably contributed to the total antioxidant capacity observed, although this parameter has not been associated directly with antioxidant analysis. Esterification

of position 3 with acid is another important factor that Selleck Etoposide positively affects the scavenging capacity of grape PAs (Rice-Evans et al., 1996). This correlation was not found in our study probably due to the

low concentrations of %G and GC observed in the wine samples. Studies on flavan-3-ols as target compounds in research involving the antioxidant activity of wines are important since it has been proposed that these compounds can react with biomolecules and thus modify their metabolism and functions (Galati, Lin, Sultan & O’Brien, 2006). According to some authors the main function of catechins as antioxidants in the organism is the scavenging capacity of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (Plumb et al., 1998), which can promote an increase in total antioxidant capacity in the organism and, as a consequence, improve the antioxidant defence system and reduce damage caused by these reactive species in the organism. Raza and John (2007) suggested that catechin and their derivatives may Ribociclib research buy affect the metabolism of GSH in vitro, by conjugation of these compounds with GSH and through inhibition of enzymes such as GST and GPx. One report suggested the conjugation of EGCG with GSH under in vivo conditions ( Galati et al., 2006). In Cepharanthine conclusion, this study presents the

free flavan-3-ol and PA composition and in vitro antioxidant capacity of the wines Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese and Syrah, 2006 and 2007 vintages, from a new wine growing region in the south of Brazil. Until now, these analyses have never been studied in wines of this region. The quantitative method using HPLC-DAD–MS allowed the precise identification and quantification of the monomers catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin gallate, and the dimers B1 and B2 along with their adducts after phloroglucinolysis, giving access to the nature of the terminal and extension units of the PAs. Flavan-3-ol and PA concentrations were in line with those reported in the literature from the most renowned regions of premium wine production; the composition of these compounds correlated positively with the in vitro antioxidant activity of the wine samples, with differences among the varieties and vintages studied being evident. These interesting results further support the potential of the region to produce high quality wines.