Analytical trends for the determination of melatonin and precursors in plants

FEDERICO J. V.GÓMEZ, ISMAEL GATICA HERNANDEZ, SOLEDAD CERUTTI & MARÍA FERNANDA SILVA

Serotonin and Melatonin: Their Functional Role in Plants and Implications in Human Health

CRC Press - Taylor & Francis

Año: 2016; p. 1 - 568

Nowadays, several groups are devoted to the development of reliable analytical methodologies such as Microchip Electrophoresis, Capillary Electrophoresis, Liquid Chromatography, coupled to different detection strategies, and particularly, the application of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in the development of sensors for the determination of melatonin (MT), its isomers, and precursors in different plant tissues and food samples. These approaches provide useful tools and knowledge to demonstrate the great potential of this natural substance for agricultural applications, improving crop production, and quality of functional foods. The analysis of MT in plants and foods represents a highly challenging task due to its low concentration range, the difficulty in the selection of the extraction solvents because of its amphipathic nature, and the fact that it reacts quickly with other matrix components. Chemical complexity of plant?s extract can also interfere with MT determinations, giving false positive results if methods from vertebrates MT research are directly adopted. Differences in MT degradation and extraction efficiency could also explain the contrasting results. Indeed, it should be considered the additional challenges related to the vast variety of matrices as well as the extremely wide concentration range (ppm to ppq levels). Therefore, the main objective of the present chapter is to take a closer look at the recent trends in analytical tools employed to contribute to the elucidation of the biological role of MT in plants and its implications in human health.