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In a continuing search for neuroprotective stilbenoids, two uncommon diastereomeric stilbenoid glucosides, africanoside A (1) and B (2) as well as fifteen known stilbenes, E-resveratrol, E-gnetifolin E, E-piceid, E-resveratroloside, E-gnetifolin K, E-gnetol, E-isorhapontigenin, E-isorhapontin, E-isorhapontigenin-4′-O-glucopyranoside, E-gnetin C, E-bisisorhapontigenin B, E-gnemonoside A, E-gnemonoside C, E-gnemonoside D, and E-gnetin E, were isolated from rhizomes of Gnetum africanum, using a combination of centrifugal partition chromatography and preparative HPLC. The structure of these two stilbenoids was investigated by NMR, vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments.

Stilbenoids have received increasing attention over the last two decades since the discovery of resveratrol in wine. With an ever-growing rhythm, a multitude of biological activities of naturally occurring stilbenes are being reported. In this work, we investigated minor stilbenoid compounds from Vitis vinifera stalks. The compounds were purified by means of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), a countercurrent-separation technique. Electrospray ionization–ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI–IT-MS) after optimization proved to be extremely efficient for the detection of these new molecules, providing both structural information for structure elucidation and a means to achieve identification even with minute amounts.

Grapevine canes are rich in resveratrol and its complex derivatives. These compounds have many biological activities and are needed mainly for health purposes. Canes, which are often wasted, can be used to produce these high-value compounds at low cost. We studied sixteen Vitis vinifera L. cultivars among the most widely cultivated ones worldwide. Polyphenols were extracted from their canes and identified by liquid chromatography–nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We accurately determined the content of E-ε-viniferin, E-resveratrol, E-piceatannol, and vitisin B and, for the first time, that of hopeaphenol and miyabenol C.

Microglia-driven inflammatory processes are thought to play an important role in ageing and several neurological disorders. Since consumption of a diet rich in polyphenols has been associated with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, we studied the effects of twenty-five stilbenoids isolated from Milicia excelsa, Morus alba, Gnetum africanum, and Vitis vinifera. These compounds were tested at 5 and 10 µM on BV-2 microglial cells stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Ten stilbenoids reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production at 5 and/or 10 µM.

We present stilbenoid profiles of canes from 16 grapevines. Fifteen stilbenoids were obtained through isolation and structure identification using MS, NMR, and [α]D or as commercial standards. An HPLC–UV method for the simultaneous quantification of nine of these stilbenoids was developed and applied to canes of Vitis amurensis, Vitis arizonica, Vitis berlandieri, Vitis betulifolia, Vitis cinerea, Vitis × champini, Vitis × doaniana, Vitis labrusca, Vitis candicans (syn. Vitis mustangensis), Vitis riparia, Vitis rupestris, Vitis vinifera, Muscadinia rotundifolia, and a V.

The interaction between Vitis vinifera and trunk disease fungi requires better understanding. We studied the role of phenolics as possible plant defense compounds in this context. The impact of 24 grapevine phenolic compounds was determined on 6 major wood decay fungi by an in vitro agar plate assay. Hydroxystilbenoids, especially oligomers such as miyabenol C, isohopeaphenol, and vitisin A and B, greatly reduced the growth of the fungi, except that of Phaeoacremonium aleophilum.