resumo
Phenolic compounds are widely known for their beneficial effects on human health. However, it is essential to understand which low molecular weight metabolites are produced by the gut microbiota, when non-absorbed compounds reach the colon, and whether these metabolites are more biologically active than their precursors. In this context, this study aims to explore the gut microbiota metabolites of relevant phenolic compounds commonly found in the human diet. Therefore, ellagic acid, naringenin, and phloroglucinol were incubated with human feces for 48 h, and the ensuing metabolites were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector coupled to ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-MSn) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ellagic acid metabolism by the gut microbiota produced a diversity of urolithins, with 8-hydroxyurolithin being identified for the first time. Isomers of 4-hydroxybenzoic, 3,4-dihydroxybenozic, and p-coumaric acids were identified for the first time as naringenin metabolites, while phloroglucinic, 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic, 3-phenylpropanoic, and 2-phenylacetic acids are reported for the first time as phloroglucinol metabolites. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the beneficial health effects of these metabolites through the evaluation of their biological activities in conjunction with their effects on the gut microbiota, thus providing the basis for the development of food supplements, novel probiotics or functional foods.
palavras-chave
DIETARY POLYPHENOLS; MASS-SPECTROMETRY; EUBACTERIUM-OXIDOREDUCENS; INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA; ANAEROBIC DEGRADATION; COLONIC METABOLISM; PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS; C-RING; FLAVONOIDS; UROLITHINS
categoria
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Chemistry
autores
Pais, ACS; Ribeiro, TB; Coscueta, ER; Pintado, MM; Silvestre, AJD; Santos, SAO
nossos autores
Adriana Cabrita Sousa Pais
Bolseiro de pós-Doutoramento
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Professor Catedrático
Sónia Andreia Oliveira Santos
Professor Auxiliaragradecimentos
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UID/50011/2025 (DOI 10.54499/UID/50011/2025) & LA/P/0006/2020 (DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0006/2020), financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC). CBQF was supported by the Fundac & atilde;o para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the project UID/50016/2025. Ezequiel R. Coscueta was supported by FCT through an Assistant Researcher contract (ref. 2023.08679.CEECIND/CP2855/CT0005). Acknowledgments are also due to FCT/MCTES for the PhD grant to ACSP (SFRH/BD/143348/2019) and for the research contract under Scientific Employment Stimulus to S. Santos (2021.03348.CEECIND).