BackgroundOrganic agriculture involve plants which are cultivated without using synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers and promotes biodiversity, biological cycles and improve the product quality. The carotenoids, total polyphenols and the antioxidant activity from skins of some wine and table grapes cultivated in organic and conventional agriculture were studied.ResultsThe main carotenoids identified using high performance liquid chromatography were lutein and ß-carotene. Muscat Ottonel variety has the highest ß-carotene concentration 504.9 μg/kg for organic and 593.2 μg/kg for conventional grapes. For the organic farming, the total polyphenols content were in the range of 163.23 – 1341.37 mg GAE/kg fresh weight (FW) and 148.47 – 1231.38 mg GAE/kg FW for the conventional grapes. The highest ORAC values were obtained for blue-black variety Napoca in both farming system (43.5 ± 0.95 μmol TE/g organic; 40.4 ± 0.5 μmol TE/g conventional) and lowest for Aromat de Iaşi (16.8 ± 0.6 μmol TE/g organic; 14.7 ± 1.6 μmol TE/g conventional). Napoca variety showed also the highest antioxidant activity measured by DPPH method in both cultivated system.ConclusionNine grape varieties cultivated in organic and conventional systems were compared regarding the carotenoids, total polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The white grape varieties have a higher carotenoids content compared with the blue-black cultivars while the blue-black varieties contain higher TPC and exhibit higher antioxidant activity (except for Muscat Hamburg-ORAC). Vitis vinifera grape skins originating from wine or table grape varieties can be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Grape pomace is a potential source of natural antioxidant agents. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant and cardioprotective properties of fresh and fermented pomace extracts obtained from Vitis vinifera L. red variety Fetească neagră grown in Romania in 2015 were investigated. Grape pomace extracts total phenolic index, total tannins, total anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavan-3-ol monomers, stilbenes, and DPPH free radical scavenger were measured. The effect of a seven-day pretreatment with grape pomace extracts on the isoprenaline-induced infarct-like lesion in rats was assessed by ECG monitoring, serum levels of creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Total serum oxidative status, total antioxidant response, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, and nitric oxide have been also assessed. Higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity were found in fermented pomace extracts when compared to fresh pomace extracts. Pretreatment with grape pomace extracts significantly improved cardiac and oxidative stress parameters. In conclusion, Fetească neagră pomace extracts had a good in vitro antioxidant activity due to an important phenolic content. In vivo, the extracts had cardioprotective effects against isoprenaline-induced infarct-like lesion by reducing oxidative stress, fresh pomace extracts having a better effect.

BackgroundThe determination of micro-, macroelements and heavy metals in the soil-grapevine-wine system is extremely important for the wine industry, the grape and wine quality, and also for consumer health. The quantitative analysis of 10 elements: Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co were made in soil at different depths and also in grapevines (leaves and canes). For grape juice and wine there were analyzed the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cd on three cultivars Fetească albă, Fetească regală and Riesling italian, located in Turulung vineyard, NW Romania. All the elements were detected using flame atomic absorbtion spectrometry (FAAS).ResultsOnly the Cu concentration has higher values than the maximum limit admitted (20 mg/kg). The concentrations of micro-, macroelements and heavy metals in aerial parts of grapevine cultivars occur in the following order: Ca > Na > Mg > Fe > Cu > Zn > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd in canes and leaves. Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn concentration levels decreased in wine compared to grape must, possibly forming insoluble components that can be removed through sedimentation together with yeasts and lees during fermentation. Cd was under the limit of detection. Heavy metals detected in Romanian wines were below the recommended health limits of the International organization of wine and vine (O.I.V.).ConclusionsIn soil, all the elements studied were under the maximum limit admitted, except, elevated concentrations of Cu. These high values obtained could be an effect of different Cu treatments in vineyards. In canes and leaves, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni had higher concentration levels than in grape juice (must) and wine. Conversely, the metal acumulation of wines obtained by micro-vinification process (in the laboratory) are lower than in must.

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In this work, the chemical compositions and texture characteristics of three native Romanian wine grape varieties (Feteascə regalə, Feteascə alba, and Feteascə neagrə) were studied. We assessed the distinct characteristics directly linked to their phenolic compositions, volatile profiles, and mechanical properties and compared these characteristics with those of Pinot noir grapes. The effect of the growing zone was also evaluated. Various spectrophotometric indices directly related to the phenolic compositions of berry skins and seeds were determined. The detailed phenolic compositions (anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamoyl tartaric acids, and stilbenes) of the skins were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Free and bound volatile compounds in the berries were quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The textural properties of the skins and seeds were measured by instrumental texture analysis. The results showed high diversity among the varieties and zones that affected the enological potential. Among the white varieties, Feteascə albə grapes could be less susceptible to browning as a consequence of their lower trans-caffeoyltartaric acid concentration, whereas Feteascə regalə grapes from Cluj had the highest concentrations of total free and bound volatile compounds, particularly terpenes and norisoprenoids. Among the red varieties, Feteascə neagrə was identified as a promising variety to be exploited in the future for its particular phenolic characteristics, particularly those grapes grown in Mica. Nevertheless, Feteascə neagrə grapes grown in Cluj had the highest total glycosidically bound terpene concentrations. Finally, differences in the mechanical and/or acoustic properties of the skins and seeds could strongly influence the kinetics and completeness of phenolic compound extraction