Metabolomics-Guided Bioactivity Evaluation of Disease-Resistant Hybrid Grape Canes for Cosmetic Valorization

Abstract Grape canes constitute a valuable source of diverse polyphenols with recognized cosmetic properties, whose composition varies according to genotype and environmental conditions. Because grapevine resistance to pathogens is partly mediated by the biosynthesis of polyphenolic phytoalexins, disease-resistant Euro-American interspecific hybrids constitute particularly promising candidates for the sustainable sourcing of high-value natural cosmetic ingredients. Semitargeted UPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis enabled the identification and quantification of 66 metabolites in grape cane extracts obtained from 24 interspecific hybrids and three Vitis vinifera cultivars as reference, cultivated over two consecutive years. Metabolomics coupled with unsupervised multivariate analysis was employed to characterize polyphenolic variability across the hybrid collection, revealing greater phytochemical diversity in Euro-American hybrids compared to European varieties. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using Oxygen Radical Antioxidant Capacity, ABTS, DPPH, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, CUPRAC, and metal chelation assays, alongside antityrosinase activity evaluation to determine skin-brightening potential. Pairwise correlation analyses between individual polyphenols and bioactivities were conducted to identify the compounds most strongly associated with antioxidant and antityrosinase effects in these complex botanical matrices. Overall, integrated metabolomic and bioactivity profiling highlights the strong potential of disease-resistant hybrid grape cane resources for cosmetic valorization.