Development and validation of a high-throughput analysis of glutathione in grapes, musts and wines by Stable Isotope Dilution Assay and LC-MS/MS

For the first time, we proposed a high-throughput method to quantify glutathione in grapes, musts and wines for all grape varieties using Stable Isotope Dilution Assay (SIDA). Indeed, the use of SIDA as a quantification method is essential to overcome the chemical instability of glutathione. In practice, glutathione was derivatized in-situ with N-ethylmaleimide to block the cysteine residue and to enhance its lipophilic properties. After quenching with acetic acid, samples were directly analyzed by LC-MS/MS (run of 13 min) in Multiple Reaction Monitoring mode using labeled glutathione as internal standard. The validation according to the International Organization of Vine and Wine recommendations demonstrated the high sensitivity (LOD = 45 μg L−1), accuracy (recovery = 112%) and intermediate reproducibility (RSD = 12%) of the method. This high-throughput method that requires only 1 mL of matrix, allowed us to analyze 70 samples per day for a moderate cost.