Detection and quantification of the antioxidant melatonin in Montmorency and Balaton tart cherries (Prunus cerasus)

S. Burkhardt, Xian Tan Dun Xian Tan, L. C. Manchester, R. Hardeland, R. J. Reiter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

235 Scopus citations

Abstract

The antioxidant melatonin was recently identified in a variety of edible plants and seeds in high concentrations. In plants, as in animals, melatonin is believed to function as a free radical scavenger and possibly in photoperiodism. In this study, melatonin was detected and quantified in fresh-frozen Balaton and Montmorency tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Both cherry species contain high levels of melatonin compared to the melatonin concentrations in the blood of mammals. Montmorency cherries (13.46 ± 1.10 ng/g) contain ∼6 times more melatonin than do Balaton cherries (2.06 ± 0.17 ng/g). Neither the orchard of origin nor the time of harvest influenced the amount of melatonin in fresh cherries. The implication of the current findings is that consuming cherries could be an important source of dietary melatonin in as much as melatonin is readily absorbed when taken orally. Also, previously published data and the results presented here show that melatonin is not only endogenously produced but also present in the diet.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4898-4902
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Volume49
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Antioxidant
  • Balaton cherry
  • Fruit
  • Melatonin
  • Montmorency cherry
  • Prunus cerasus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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