Palmitoyl grapevine shoot extract is a chemical compound derived from a form of palmitic acid and grapevine shoots.

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• Palmitoyl. This refers to the palmitoyl group, which is derived from palmitic acid, a common saturated fatty acid. Palmitoyl groups are often attached to other molecules to improve their lipophilicity, or ability to dissolve in fats, oils, and lipids, which can improve their absorption across the skin.
• Grapevine Shoot Extract.. It is an extract derived from the young shoots of the vine plant (Vitis vinifera). The vine branches are rich in polyphenols, compounds that have antioxidant properties.

The synthesis process takes place in different steps:

• Extraction of vine sprout extract. The first step is to extract beneficial compounds from vine shoots. This is typically done using a solvent extraction process, where the shoots are immersed in a solvent that can dissolve the desired compounds. The solvent is then evaporated, leaving the vine shoot extract behind.
• Synthesis of palmitoyl chloride. While preparing vine bud extract, the palmitoyl group can be synthesized. This is typically done by reacting palmitic acid with thionyl chloride to create palmitoyl chloride.
• Attachment of the Palmitoyl group. Palmitoyl chloride is then reacted with the vine sprout extract. This attaches the palmitoyl group to the extract, creating palmitoyl sprout vine extract.
• Purification. The final step is to purify the product, eliminating any unresponsive materials and by-products. This can be done through various methods, such as filtration or chromatography.

Vine shoots contain many antioxidants, including resveratrol, which studies in the 1990s indicated as a protector against coronary heart disease, as a potential tumour protector and as a hepatoprotector. However, while recognising its role as an antioxidant agent, some studies have cast doubt on the positive efficacy of this component in combating cardiovascular disease, cancer and longevity.

The resveratrol contained in Palmitoyl grapevine shoot extract may have an effective effect against hyperpigmentation. Human skin is subject to oxidative stress caused by various factors such as a polluted environment, detergents containing harmful chemical compounds, ultraviolet radiation, etc. Resveratrol has demonstrated anti-oxidative properties and moderate activity against hyperpigmentation (1). Therefore, some cosmetic companies include it in the formula of anti-ageing and skin care products either as a component alone or in the form of plant extracts containing it, as in the case of Palmitoyl grapevine shoot extract .

What it is used for and where

Medical

This study investigates the free radical scavenging capacity, the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation, and the capacity to enhance the human glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx) and the human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD) gene promoter activities of Vineatrol®30, a grapevine-shoot extract a potent antioxidant at non-cytotoxic concentrations (2).

Wine industry

This article reports on the use of a vine shoot stilbene extract (Vineatrol®) as a preservative in red wine. Its effectiveness in preserving the quality of red wine under two different vinification systems (traditional and Ganymede) was studied at bottling and after twelve months (3).

Cosmetics

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.

Antioxidant agent. Ingredient that counteracts oxidative stress and prevents cell damage. Free radicals, pathological inflammatory processes, reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species are responsible for the ageing process and many diseases caused by oxidation.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Chen J, Liu Y, Zhao Z, Qiu J. Oxidative stress in the skin: Impact and related protection. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2021 Oct;43(5):495-509. doi: 10.1111/ics.12728. 

(2) Müller C, Ullmann K, Wilkens A, Winterhalter P, Toyokuni S, Steinberg P. Potent antioxidative activity of Vineatrol30 grapevine-shoot extract. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009 Aug;73(8):1831-6. doi: 10.1271/bbb.90213.

Abstract. The health promoting effects of a grapevine-shoot extract named Vineatrol30, which contains resveratrol (Resv) as well as considerable amounts of Resv oligomers, have recently been investigated. In the present study, we analyzed the free radical scavenging capacity, the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation, and the capacity to enhance the human glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx) and the human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD) gene promoter activities of Vineatrol30. Vineatrol30 was able to scavenge the 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical cation and led to concentration-dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation, Vineatrol30 not being superior to Resv alone in both cases. Vineatrol30 also enhanced the gene promoter activities of human GPx and SOD expressed in V79 cells, whereas this effect could not be demonstrated for Resv. In summary, the results presented in this study show that the Vineatrol30 grapevine-shoot extract is a free radical scavenger and potent antioxidant at non-cytotoxic concentrations.

(3) Raposo R, Ruiz-Moreno MJ, Garde-Cerdán T, Puertas B, Moreno-Rojas JM, Gonzalo-Diago A, Guerrero R, Ortíz V, Cantos-Villar E. Grapevine-shoot stilbene extract as a preservative in red wine. Food Chem. 2016 Apr 15;197 Pt B:1102-11. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.11.102.