Resveratrol Extract

Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 15:40
Health
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While early resveratrol supplements were produced from grape skins, most products sold today are made from the more economical, and more concentrated, Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).

Some supplements contain added red wine extracts, both for their resveratrol content and for marketing purposes. In the typical extraction process, Japanese knotweed roots are sliced before being heated up in large metal chambers known as extractors. The plants are first tested to prevent contamination with heavy metals or chemicals.

Ethanol or methanol is used as a solvent to separate the resveratrol from the plant tissue, resulting in a crude liquid extract. The separated resveratrol extract is processed further by being run over a column of silica under high pressure, or by various other methods. It is then vacuum-dried to remove the solvent and produce resveratrol powder, which in turn is combined with fillers such as rice flour or hydroxypropylcellulose to manufacture pills and capsules.

When grapes are used to make resveratrol, the production process is similar to that described above. Alcohol is used to dissolve the resveratrol contained in the skins or seeds, and the resulting liquid is refined further and dried.

A biological method of producing high-quality resveratrol from grapevine cells is the best one. This method is cheaper and more reliable than traditional extraction from grapes. The perceived higher value of grape-based supplements could make this a viable alternative to grapes as a source of premium-grade resveratrol.