Partitioning of resveratrol between pentane and DMSO - A contribution to resveratrol-biomembrane interactions

Partitioning of trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxy-stilbene (resveratrol) between n-pentane and DMSO was investigated as a contribution to understand the interaction between resveratrol and biomembranes. In order to determine the partition coefficient P* of resveratrol between pentane and DMSO, resveratrol solutions in DMSO were equilibrated against pentane solutions. From the UV-vis absorbance of resveratrol in the DMSO phase, P* = 1.74 × 10−3 was determined. The mutual miscibility of pentane and DMSO, measured by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, was taken into account. The value of P* indicates a preference of resveratrol for a polar environment rather than an apolar environment. Together with the known low solubility of resveratrol in water, the finding suggests that resveratrol does spontaneously accumulate within the headgroup region in a biomembrane.