title: Melatonin is synthesised by yeast during alcoholic fermentation in wines.
abstract: Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a neurohormone produced in the pineal gland. Its biological properties are related to the circadian rhythm. Recently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) accepted the health claim related to melatonin and the alleviation of subjective feelings of jet lag. This molecule has been detected in some foods. In this work, 13 grape varieties were studied; 7 monovarietal wines were produced in an experimental winery under strictly controlled conditions and were sampled in different steps. The grape varieties used to make the wines were: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tintilla de Rota, Palomino Fino and Alpha red. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) unequivocally confirmed the presence of melatonin in wines. The main contribution of this paper is the results that clearly show that melatonin is synthesised during the winemaking process, specifically after the alcoholic fermentation. Indeed, melatonin is absent in grapes and musts and is formed during alcoholic fermentation.
authors.affiliation: Área de Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, C/Profesor García González n° 2, Sevilla 41012, Spain.
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Naranjo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, Calidad, Seguridad y Bioactividad de Alimentos Vegetales, CEBAS-CSIC, Apartado de Correos 164, Espinardo 30100 (Murcia), Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Área de Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, C/Profesor García González n° 2, Sevilla 41012, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA), Rancho de la Merced, Trebujena, Km 3.2, Jerez de la Frontera 11.471 (Cádiz), Spain.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cantos-Villar
authors.affiliation: Área de Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, C/Profesor García González n° 2, Sevilla 41012, Spain. Electronic address: mcparrilla@us.es.
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garcia-Parrilla
keywords: LC-MS/MS; Melatonin; Winemaking; Wines; Yeast