Analysis of phenolic constituents of biological interest in red wines by high-performance liquid chromatography

We describe a reversed-phase HPLC method that uses gradient elution and dio de array detection to determine four biologically active phenolic constitue nts of red wines: gallic acid, trans-resveratrol, quercetin and rutin. The method permits direct injection without sample pre-treatment. ODS Hypersil served as the stationary phase; the gradient was formed by acetic acid, met hanol, and water. Each analysis required an equilibration period of 10 min and a run time of 50 min for completion. Previously, total phenols were ana lysed according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method, using gallic acid as the sta ndard, and the results are given as gallic acid equivalent. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science BN. All rights reserved.