title: L-theanine elicits an umami taste with inosine 5'-monophosphate.
abstract: We investigated the taste synergy between L-theanine and the flavour enhancer, inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), by using a human sensory evaluation. When L-theanine was added to IMP, only the umami taste was enhanced. We then investigated this synergistic effect of L-theanine in mice by gustatory nerve recording. We confirmed the synergism between L-theanine and IMP for the umami taste.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narukawa
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005421:Flavoring Agents; D005971:Glutamates; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate; C026166:theanine