Vitis vinifera, commonly known as the grapevine, is a species of woody vine in the Vitaceae family, native to the Mediterranean region, Central Asia, and southeastern Europe. It is primarily cultivated for its edible fruit, the grape, which is used fresh, dried as raisins, or fermented to produce wine. The plant is also valued for its leaves, which are used in culinary dishes, and for its seeds, which are rich in oil and antioxidants.

Botanical Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Vitales
• Family: Vitaceae
• Genus: Vitis
• Species: V. vinifera

Plant Characteristics

Vitis vinifera is a deciduous vine that can grow up to 20-30 meters (65-100 feet) in length, with tendrils that help it climb. The plant has broad, palmate leaves and produces small, greenish flowers that develop into clusters of grapes. The grapes come in a variety of colors, including green, red, and black, and are used in a wide range of culinary and beverage applications.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The grapevine, particularly its fruit and seeds, contains several beneficial compounds:

• Resveratrol: A polyphenol found mainly in the skin of red grapes, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Flavonoids: Includes quercetin and catechins, which have antioxidant effects and contribute to heart health.
• Vitamins: Rich in vitamin C, which supports the immune system, and vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting.
• Minerals: Contains potassium and magnesium, which are essential for cardiovascular health.

Cultivation

Vitis vinifera requires a well-drained, sandy or loamy soil and thrives in a sunny location with ample light. It is tolerant of a variety of soil types but prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH levels. The plant is usually propagated by cuttings or grafting and requires regular pruning to maintain its shape and improve fruit production. It benefits from moderate watering and should be protected from frost.

Uses and Benefits

• Culinary: Grapes are consumed fresh, dried (as raisins), or used in the production of wine, juice, and vinegar. The leaves are used in cooking, especially in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.

• Medicinal: Grapes and grape seed extracts are used for their antioxidant properties, which can support cardiovascular health and reduce inflammation. Resveratrol has been studied for its potential benefits in aging and chronic diseases.

• Cosmetic: Grape seed oil is used in skincare products for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties. It is often included in lotions, serums, and creams.

Applications

• Culinary: Used in a variety of food products, including fresh fruit, raisins, wine, juice, and vinegar. Grape leaves are used in dishes such as dolmas.

• Medicinal: Incorporated into supplements and remedies for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

• Cosmetic: Added to skincare formulations for its hydrating, anti-aging, and antioxidant properties.

INCI Functions:

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.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

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.

CAS  85594-37-2

EC number  287-896-9

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Vitis vinifera is generally safe for consumption and use in cosmetics. However, care should be taken to ensure that products made from grapes and grape seeds are of high quality and free from contaminants. Sustainable cultivation practices should be followed to minimize environmental impact and ensure the health of the grapevines.

Studies

In addition to vitamins B1, B6, C and K, grape also contains polyphenols that, with their antioxidant activity, perform various protective actions: increase in gene expression or antioxidant protein, attenuation of stress signaling of the endoplasmic reticulum, blockage of pro-inflammatory cytokines or endotoxin-mediated kinases and transcription factors involved in metabolic diseases, suppression of inflammation (1). These actions can reduce obesity-mediated chronic inflammation by multiple mechanisms, thus preventing metabolic diseases.

In addition, it seems established an effect of stimulation of memory in older people through an integration of grape juice that has produced a reduction in vascular disease in people with cardiovascular disease (2)

Piceatannol (trans-3,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene) , a polyphenol of grape, regulating the expression of proteins involved in the migration of cancer cells, would appear to be able to counteract their migration in the prostate (3).

Vitis rotundifolia extracts produced an anti-cancer action against a particularly aggressive tumour, triple-negative breast cancer. The positive action can be traced back to the antitumor and antioxidant activity carried out by the phenolic content and flavonoids present in this type of grape (4).

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trans-trihydroxystilbene) is present in the skin and seeds of the grape. It is a polyphenolic component belonging to the stilbene family that protects plants from stress, infections and other diseases. Resveratrol has a wide range of biological properties with anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-aging (5).

Grape studies

References___________________________________________________________________________

(1) Chuang CC, McIntosh MK. Potential mechanisms by which polyphenol-rich grapes prevent obesity-mediated inflammation and metabolic diseases. Annu Rev Nutr. 2011 Aug 21;31:155-76. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-072610-145149. 

Abstract. Obesity and metabolic disease-related health problems (e.g., type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and hypertension) are the most prevalent nutrition-related issues in the United States. An emerging feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes is their linkage with chronic inflammation that begins in white adipose tissue and eventually becomes systemic. One potential strategy to reduce inflammation and insulin resistance is consumption of polyphenol-rich foods like grapes or their by-products, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols commonly found in grape products have been reported to reduce inflammation by (a) acting as an antioxidant or increasing antioxidant gene or protein expression, (b) attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling, (c) blocking proinflammatory cytokines or endotoxin-mediated kinases and transcription factors involved in metabolic disease, (d) suppressing inflammatory- or inducing metabolic-gene expression via increasing histone deacetylase activity, or (e) activating transcription factors that antagonize chronic inflammation. Thus, polyphenol-rich grape products may reduce obesity-mediated chronic inflammation by multiple mechanisms, thereby preventing metabolic diseases.

(2) Krikorian R, Nash TA, Shidler MD, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Br J Nutr. 2010 Mar;103(5):730-4. doi: 10.1017/S0007114509992364. 

Abstract. Concord grape juice contains polyphenol compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and influence neuronal signalling. Concord grape juice supplementation has been shown to reduce inflammation, blood pressure and vascular pathology in individuals with CVD, and consumption of such flavonoid-containing foods is associated with a reduced risk for dementia. In addition, preliminary animal data have indicated improvement in memory and motor function with grape juice supplementation, suggesting potential for cognitive benefit in ageing humans. In this initial investigation of neurocognitive effects, we enrolled twelve older adults with memory decline but not dementia in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with Concord grape juice supplementation for 12 weeks. We observed significant improvement in a measure of verbal learning and non-significant enhancement of verbal and spatial recall. There was no appreciable effect of the intervention on depressive symptoms and no effect on weight or waist circumference. A small increase in fasting insulin was observed for those consuming grape juice. These preliminary findings suggest that supplementation with Concord grape juice may enhance cognitive function for older adults with early memory decline and establish a basis for more comprehensive investigations to evaluate potential benefit and assess mechanisms of action.

(3) PKwon GT, Jung JI, Song HR, Woo EY, Jun JG, Kim JK, Her S, Park JH. Piceatannol inhibits migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells: possible mediation by decreased interleukin-6 signaling. J Nutr Biochem. 2012 Mar;23(3):228-38. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2010.11.019. Epub 2011 Apr 15. PMID: 21497499.

(4) Darwish AG, El-Sharkawy I, Tang C, Rao Q, Tan J. Investigation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Activities of Chocolate Fortified with Muscadine Grape Pomace. Foods. 2023 Aug 22;12(17):3153. doi: 10.3390/foods12173153. 

Abstract. Muscadine grape pomace and mixed products with chocolate extracts from three muscadine genotypes exhibiting different berry skin colors (black and bronze) were investigated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH, FRAP antioxidant activity, and anticancer activity using MDA-MB-468 (MM-468; African American) breast cancer cells. Muscadine berry extracts and mixed products showed cytotoxicity activities of up to 70% against MM-468 breast cancer cells. Cell growth inhibition was higher in 'macerated Floriana' with an IC50 value of 20.70 ± 2.43 followed by 'Alachua' with an IC50 value of 22.25 ± 2.47. TPC and TFC in macerated MGP powder were (1.4 ± 0.14 and 0.45 ± 0.01 GAE/g FW, respectively), which was significantly higher than those in cocoa powder. Data analysis showed a high association between DPPH, FRAP antioxidant activities, and TPC content and a positive high correlation between anticancer activity and antioxidant capacity and between TPC and anticancer activity. The anticancer and antioxidant effects of muscadine grape pomace and chocolate extracts are attributed to the TPC of extracts, which showed a stronger positive correlation with growth inhibition of African American breast cancer cells. This study would be of great value for food industries as well as other manufacturers who are interested in new food blends.

(5) Galiniak S, Aebisher D, Bartusik-Aebisher D. Health benefits of resveratrol administration. Acta Biochim Pol. 2019 Feb 28;66(1):13-21. doi: 10.18388/abp.2018_2749. PMID: 30816367.

 Abstract. Resveratrol is a polyphenol that is abundant in grape skin and seeds. Food sources of resveratrol include wine, berries, and peanuts. This compound has many properties, including activity against glycation, oxidative stress, inflammation, neurodegeneration, several types of cancer, and aging. Because resveratrol is generally welltolerated, it is believed to be a promising compound in preventing many diseases, such as diabetes and its complications. Unfortunately, this compound exhibits low bioavailability and solubility. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest information on the multiple effects of resveratrol on health and the benefits of its intake, based on in vitro and in vivo studies in animals and humans.

 de la Lastra CA, Villegas I. Resveratrol as an anti-inflammatory and anti-aging agent: mechanisms and clinical implications. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2005 May;49(5):405-30. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200500022. 

  Abstract. Resveratrol is a phytoalexin polyphenolic compound found in various plants, including grapes, berries, and peanuts. Multiple lines of compelling evidence indicate its beneficial effects on neurological, hepatic, and cardiovascular systems. Also one of the most striking biological activities of resveratrol soundly investigated during the late years has been its cancer-chemopreventive potential. In fact, recently it has been demonstrated that this stilbene blocks the multistep process of carcinogenesis at various stages: tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. One of the possible mechanisms for its biological activities involves downregulation of the inflammatory response through inhibition of synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, modification of eicosanoid synthesis, inhibition of activated immune cells, or inhibiting such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) via its inhibitory effects on nuclear factor (kappa)B (NF-(kappa)B) or the activator protein-1 (AP-1). More recent data provide interesting insights into the effect of this compound on the lifespan of yeast and flies, implicating the potential of resveratrol as an anti-aging agent in treating age-related human diseases. It is worthy to note that the phenolic compound possesses a low bioavailability and rapid clearance from the plasma. As the positive effects of resveratrol on inflammatory response regulation may comprise relevant clinical implications, the purpose of this article is to review its strong anti-inflammatory activity and the plausible mechanisms of these effects. Also, this review is intended to provide the reader an up-date of the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and its impact on lifespan.