Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization

Grape pomace (GP), the main by-product of the wine industry, represents a valuable source of bioactive metabolites with significant potential for valorization in the context of sustainable bioresource management. This study systematically characterizes the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile, tot...

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Main Authors: Teresa Abreu, Rui Ferreira, Paula C. Castilho, José S. Câmara, Juan Teixeira, Rosa Perestrelo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3150
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author Teresa Abreu
Rui Ferreira
Paula C. Castilho
José S. Câmara
Juan Teixeira
Rosa Perestrelo
author_facet Teresa Abreu
Rui Ferreira
Paula C. Castilho
José S. Câmara
Juan Teixeira
Rosa Perestrelo
author_sort Teresa Abreu
collection DOAJ
description Grape pomace (GP), the main by-product of the wine industry, represents a valuable source of bioactive metabolites with significant potential for valorization in the context of sustainable bioresource management. This study systematically characterizes the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC) of GP derived from seven grape varieties across three consecutive vintages (2022–2024). White GP, particularly Verdelho and Sercial, exhibited a superior lipid quality with high concentrations of methyl linoleate (up to 1997 mg/100 g DW) and methyl oleate (up to 1294 mg/100 g DW), low atherogenic (AI < 0.05) and thrombogenic indices (TI ≤ 0.13), and elevated PUFA/SFA ratios (≥8.2). In contrast, red GP, especially from Complexa and Tinta Negra, demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential, with TPC values up to 6687 mgGAE/100 g DW, TFC up to 4624 mgQE/100 g DW, and antioxidant activities reaching 5399 mgTE/100 g (DPPH) and 7219 mgTE/100 g (ABTS). Multivariate statistical analyses (PCA, PLS-DA, HCA) revealed distinct varietal and vintage-dependent clustering and identified key discriminant fatty acids, including linolenic acid (C18:3), lauric acid (C12:0), and arachidic acid (C20:0). These findings underscore the compositional diversity and functional potential of GP, reinforcing its suitability for applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, in alignment with circular economy principles.
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spelling doaj-art-dcc8f52def79423cadb95fcb5716083c2025-08-20T03:36:41ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013015315010.3390/molecules30153150Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable ValorizationTeresa Abreu0Rui Ferreira1Paula C. Castilho2José S. Câmara3Juan Teixeira4Rosa Perestrelo5CQM—Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalCQM—Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalCQM—Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalCQM—Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalParque Industrial da Cancela, Justino´s Madeira Wines, S.A., Caniço, 9125-042 Santa Cruz, PortugalCQM—Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, PortugalGrape pomace (GP), the main by-product of the wine industry, represents a valuable source of bioactive metabolites with significant potential for valorization in the context of sustainable bioresource management. This study systematically characterizes the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC) of GP derived from seven grape varieties across three consecutive vintages (2022–2024). White GP, particularly Verdelho and Sercial, exhibited a superior lipid quality with high concentrations of methyl linoleate (up to 1997 mg/100 g DW) and methyl oleate (up to 1294 mg/100 g DW), low atherogenic (AI < 0.05) and thrombogenic indices (TI ≤ 0.13), and elevated PUFA/SFA ratios (≥8.2). In contrast, red GP, especially from Complexa and Tinta Negra, demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential, with TPC values up to 6687 mgGAE/100 g DW, TFC up to 4624 mgQE/100 g DW, and antioxidant activities reaching 5399 mgTE/100 g (DPPH) and 7219 mgTE/100 g (ABTS). Multivariate statistical analyses (PCA, PLS-DA, HCA) revealed distinct varietal and vintage-dependent clustering and identified key discriminant fatty acids, including linolenic acid (C18:3), lauric acid (C12:0), and arachidic acid (C20:0). These findings underscore the compositional diversity and functional potential of GP, reinforcing its suitability for applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, in alignment with circular economy principles.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3150grape pomacefatty acid profileantioxidant activitycircular economynutraceuticals
spellingShingle Teresa Abreu
Rui Ferreira
Paula C. Castilho
José S. Câmara
Juan Teixeira
Rosa Perestrelo
Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization
Molecules
grape pomace
fatty acid profile
antioxidant activity
circular economy
nutraceuticals
title Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization
title_full Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization
title_fullStr Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization
title_short Unlocking the Fatty Acid and Antioxidant Profile of Grape Pomace: A Systematic Assessment Across Varieties and Vintages for Its Sustainable Valorization
title_sort unlocking the fatty acid and antioxidant profile of grape pomace a systematic assessment across varieties and vintages for its sustainable valorization
topic grape pomace
fatty acid profile
antioxidant activity
circular economy
nutraceuticals
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3150
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