 IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Evaluating analytical methods for quantification of glutathione in grape juice and wine

Evaluating analytical methods for quantification of glutathione in grape juice and wine

Abstract

AIM: Glutathione (GSH) is a powerful natural antioxidant, considered as a promising molecule against oxidative damage of aroma during winemaking and storage. His concentration in the grape juice is variable. Enological practice in the cellar can promote the preservation of the GSH in the grape juice. Recently the prescription of OIV allows to add glutathione rich substances to the must. This new practice creates an increasing interest in the quantification of GSH. Several analytical methods were published to measure GSH[1,2,3,4] and his dimer (GSSG) separately[5] or together as total glutathione[6] content. In this work we compared two analytical methods for the analyses of grape juice and wine samples.

METHODS: The first method is an enzymatic assay (EA), based on the reaction of thiol with DTNB in the presence of glutathione reductase enzyme to measure the total glutathione content. This method was automatized to allow high through-put measurements in the concentration range of 5-100mg/l. The second method, using UPLC-MS/MS, is more sensitive (LOD = 0.5mg/l) and permits simultaneous quantification of GSH, GSSG and additionally the sulfonated form of glutathione (GSSO3H).

RESULTS: The best results were obtained with 2.5g/l ascorbic acid. Using the two analytical methods, we found a strong correlation (R2=0.98) between the total glutathione (EA) and the sum of GSH and GSSG (UPLC-MS/MS) in grape juice samples (n>100), where the GSSO3H concentration was low (0-8 mg/l) comparing to the GSH and GSSG (5-100mg/l). In wine samples the total glutathione concentration was low (2-7mg/l) and the GSSO3H was more important (5-9mg/l) due to the combination of SO2 with the glutathione. View the high reactivity of GSH, a special attention should be accorded to the preparation and the storage of grape juice samples. We compared the effect of different concentration of SO2 and ascorbic acid as additives and found that 2.5g/l ascorbic acid gave the best results.

CONCLUSION

Based on our results the enzymatic assay is an economic alternative to measure the total glutathione concentration of grape juice. However for wine the UPLC-MS/MS method is recommended, to reach the necessary sensitivity and to analyze all glutathione species.

DOI:

Publication date: September 7, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Ágnes Dienes-Nagy

Agroscope, Nyon, Switzerland,Frédéric VUICHARD, Agroscope, Nyon, Switzerland Marie BLACKFORD, Agroscope, Nyon, Switzerland Fabrice LORENZINI, Agroscope, Nyon, Switzerland

Contact the author

Keywords

glutathione, enzymatic assay, uplc-ms/ms

Citation

The Fontevraud charter in favour of the viticultural landscapes

The viticultural regions of the world have the advantage of a remarkable diversity of landscapes which are the reflection of the winegrowers’ capacity to adapt to the different geomorphological and climatic specificities of the terroirs, more generally speaking, this aesthetic and heritage aspect of the terroir is also part and parcel of the notion of sustainable viticulture.

The role of malolactic bacteria metabolism on the organoleptic qualities of wines

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are essential microorganisms in winemaking due to their role in malolactic fermentation (MLF) [1]. This process not only ensures the biological stabilization of wine through the decarboxylation of malic acid into lactic acid but also contributes to modifications in the chemical composition of the wine [2][3].

The modification of cultural practices in grapevine cv. Syrah, does it modify the characteristics of the musts?

The work shows the results of a year of experimentation (2020) in a Syrah variety vineyard in La Roda (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). The trial approach was on a randomized block design with two factors: Irrigation (I) and Pruning (P).
Irrigation schedules were adjusted to apply amounts close to 1,500 m3/ha. With this provision, 2 different irrigation treatments were proposed: I1) Start of irrigation from pea-sized grape to post-harvest (providing at least 20 % of the total amount of irrigation water to be provided post-harvest); I2) Start of irrigation from pea-sized grape to harvest (usual irrigation practice in the study area). Pruning was proposed with two treatments, one at the end of January (P1), which is pruning on a conventional date; and P2) pruning carried out at the beginning of budding. In total, 4 repetitions were designed with 4 elementary plots, each one of them representing one of the proposed treatments (I1P1; I1P2; I2P1; I2P2). In total, 16 plots were worked on and each elementary plot consisted of 30 strains, distributed in 3 lines.
The productive response was evaluated with the yield results of the harvest harvested at 23 ºBrix. The qualitative response was measured in the musts through the indices of technological (acidity, pH and potassium) and phenolic maturity and aromatic compounds in free and glycosylated fractions. The treatments tested had, in general, an effect on the different variables analyzed.

Valpolicella chemical pattern of aroma ‘terroir’ evolution during aging

Valpolicella is an Italian region famous for the production of high quality red wines. Wines produced in its different sub-regions are believed to be aromatically different, as confirmed by recent studies in our laboratory. Aging is a very common practice in Valpolicella and it is required by the appellation regulation for periods up to four years. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution, during aging, of volatile chemical composition of Valpolicella wines obtained from grapes harvested in different sub-regions during different vintages.

Impact of elemental sulfur (S0) residues in Sauvignon blanc juice on the formation of the varietal thiols 3-mercapto hexanol and 3-mercaptohexyl acetate

Elemental sulfur is a fungicide used by grape growers to control the development of powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Erysiphe necator. This compound is effective, cheap and has a low toxicity with no withholding period recommended. However, high levels of S0 residues in the harvested grapes can lead to the formation of reductive sulfur compounds that can impart taints and faults to the wine. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a very volatile and unpleasant sulfur compound which formation is connected to high residues of S0 in juice (10 – 100 mg/L).