Grape Stem Extracts From Three Native Greek Vine Varieties Exhibit Strong Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Properties

Anticancer Res. 2020 Apr;40(4):2025-2032. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.14159.

Abstract

Background/aim: The winemaking procedure results in the generation of stems, a by-product that is harmful to the environment. Concomitantly, stems are rich in polyphenols and, hence, they are putatively beneficial for human health.

Materials and methods: In this study, the grape stem extracts derived from three native Greek vine varieties, namely Mavrodaphne, Muscat and Rhoditis were examined for their chemical composition and antioxidant and antimutagenic properties using a battery of in vitro biomarkers.

Results: All extracts are rich in polyphenols. Moreover, they exhibit potent antioxidant and antimutagenic properties with the extract of Mavrodaphne being the strongest in reducing the DPPH and O2 -• radicals and the Fe3+ and in protecting plasmid DNA from peroxyl radical-induced oxidative modification.

Conclusion: Therefore, although they are serious pollutants, grape stems contain phytochemicals with important biological properties and can be used as (ingredients of) bio-functional foods to improve certain aspects of human health.

Keywords: Grape stem extracts; Greek vine varieties; antimutagenic properties; antioxidants; bio-functional foods; polyphenols.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • DNA / drug effects*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Plasmids / drug effects
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Polyphenols / chemistry
  • Polyphenols / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Vitis / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • DNA