The role of electroanalytical techniques in analysis of polyphenols in wine

Wine is a major source of polyphenols in the diet, so the characterization and the determination of them in wine samples is a topic of increasing interest with many publications devoted to this issue. Among analytical methods, electroanalytical techniques can obtain valuable information, as the antioxidant activity of polyphenols is related to their electrochemical properties.This review examines the potency of electroanalytical techniques for the direct evaluation of antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content of wines, and the detection and the quantification of individual polyphenols in these samples. We summarize and critically discuss voltammetric approaches using carbon-based and metallic electrodes and biosensors, and their coupling to flow systems (e.g., flow-injection analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis) with special attention to contributions from 2000 to date.

► Characterization and determination of polyphenols in wine are of increasing interest.
► Electroanalytical techniques obtain valuable information on polyphenols in samples.
► Electroanalytical techniques for analyzing polyphenol content in wines are evaluated.
► Voltammetric approaches in batch and flow systems (FIA, HPLC and CE) are reviewed.