Direct liquid chromatographic analysis of resveratrol derivatives and flavanonols in wines with absorbance and fluorescence detection

Wine contains a large number of polyphenols including stilbenes, flavanols and anthocyanins. Of these, stilbenes have been reported to have potential chemopreventive activities. We describe the simultaneous determination of six resveratrol derivatives in wines by liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. The levels of pallidol, the symmetrical dimer of resveratrol, are reported for the first time. Quantifications were carried out at optimal wavelengths for each compound during separation. A total of 19 red and 30 white commercial wines from South-Western France were analysed, and the highest stilbene concentrations were found in red wines. In addition, the levels of catechins and two flavanonols recently isolated in red wine are reported. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.