Resveratrol content in leaves of Mexican wild grapevines (Vitis spp.)

Resveratrol is considered a phytoalexin, because it is synthesized in response to pathogens (biotic factors) and adverse climatic conditions (abiotic factors). Nowadays there is great interest in this substance, due to its potential use in pharmacology as an antioxidant. Through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), resveratrol content was determined in leaves of 18 accessions of wild grapevines native to Puebla, Mexico; four of them growing in four different environmental conditions. There was high variability in the resveratrol contents, estimating 39.5 mu g g(-1) fresh weight as maximum value whereas in some accessions there was not detection. Differences in the content of resveratrol within the four environments for the different accessions were observed, suggesting high influence of the environment on the genotype, inducting or inhibiting the biosynthesis of that compound.