A
method was developed for the fractionation of grape and wineproanthocyanidins according totheir degree of poly
merization. The grape and wineproanthocyanidins were fractionated on C
18Sep-Pak cartridges into three fractions by different organic solvents.The co
mbination of TLC,analytic HPLC, and degradation with toluene-
![](/i<font color=)
mages/gifchars/alpha.gif" BORDER=0>-thiol confir
med thatthese three fractions contained,respectively,
mono
meric flavan-3-ols (catechins), oligo
mericproanthocyanidins, and poly
mericproanthocyanidins. The
mean degrees of poly
merization foroligo
meric and poly
meric proanthocyanidins in red wine were, respectively, 4.8 and 22.1, and those in theseed extract, 9.8 and 31.5.The
method proposed is very interesting for the study of grape andwine proanthocyanidins accordingto their degree of poly
merization, and a further quantification is alsopossible.Keywords: Grape; wine; catechins; proanthocyanidins; C
18Sep-Pak cartridge; fractionation