Determination of melatonin in wine and plant extracts by capillary electrochromatography with immobilized carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes as stationary phase

• Published in: Electrophoresis Vol. 31; no. 13; pp. 2242 - 2248
• Main Authors: Stege, Patricia W, Sombra, Lorena L, Messina, Germán, Martinez, Luis D, Silva, María F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley-VCH Verlag 01.07.2010; WILEY-VCH Verlag; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Capillarity; Capillary electrochromatography; Capillary Electrochromatography - methods; Carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes; Darkness; Extraction plants; Food Analysis - methods; Foods; Mathematical analysis; Melatonin; Melatonin - analysis; Melatonin - chemistry; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Plant extracts; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Reproducibility of Results; Salvia officinalis - chemistry; Sensitivity and Specificity; Wine; Wine - analysis; Wines
• ISSN: 0173-0835; 1522-2683; 1522-2683
• DOI: 10.1002/elps.200900782

The finding of melatonin, the often called "hormone of darkness" in plants opens an interesting perspective associated to the plethora of health benefits related to the moderate consumption of red wine. In this study, the implementation of a new method for the determination of melatonin in complex food matrices by CEC with immobilized carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes as stationary phase is demonstrated. The results indicated high electrochromatographic resolution, good capillary efficiencies and improved sensitivity respect to those obtained with conventional capillaries. In addition, it was demonstrated highly reproducible results between runs, days and columns. The LOD for melatonin was 0.01 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to the determination of melatonin in red and white wine, grape skin and plant extracts of Salvia officinalis L.