A straightforward procedure to biosynthetise melatonin using freshly chopped Achillea millefolium L. as reagent

D,L-Tryptophan as the precursor of melatonin and Achillea millefolium L. as the plant cell tissue were used in order to force the plant enzymic system to enhance the prodn. of melatonin. The biotransformation protocol was performed by adding the precursor to the freshly chopped plant material suspended in water and stirred at room temp. in total darkness. The melatonin content was evaluated by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. The precursor-treated sample gave at least six times (345 ng/gfresh plant) the melatonin amt. usually produced in young plants of A. millefolium L. (50 ng/gfresh plant). The present study shows that, in principle, adding a specific precursor to a suitable freshly chopped plant material can significantly enhance a secondary metabolite prodn.