High protection by grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPC) of polyunsaturated fatty acids against UV-C induced peroxidation.

The antioxidative effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPC) were studied in three in-vitro models in which polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in aqueous solution and mice liver or brain microsomes were used as oxidative substrates, and UV-C irradiation as the pro-oxidant system. Analysis of UV-C induced lipid peroxidation was carried out by two methods: gas liquid chromatography of residual PUFAs and release of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) measured by TBA reaction. Results indicate that PUFAs are more radiosensitive when incorporated in single component micelles than in mixed component micelles or microsomes. In every case, PUFA peroxidation was inhibited by low concentrations of GSPC (2 mg/L) while epigallocatecin (EGC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) monomers, at an equivalent level of epicatechin, exhibited no efficacy in our experimental conditions. This latter effect might be explained by a synergistic action of flavan-3-ol monomers, dimers and oligomers contained in the grape seed extract.