Gut microbial metabolism of polyphenols from black tea and red wine/grape juice is source-specific and colon-region dependent

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Nov 14;60(45):11331-42. doi: 10.1021/jf303165w. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

The colonic microbial degradation of a polyphenol-rich black tea extract (BTE) and red wine/grape juice extract (RWGE) was compared in a five-stage in vitro gastrointestinal model (TWINSHIME). Microbial metabolism of BTE and RWGE polyphenols in the TWINSHIME was studied subsequently in single- and continuous-dose experiments. A combination of liquid or gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS or GC-MS) and NMR-based metabolic profiling was used to measure selected parent polyphenols, their microbial degradation into phenolic acids, and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in different colon compartments. Acetate production was increased by continuous feeding of BTE but not RWGE. During RWGE feeding, gallic acid and 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid remained elevated throughout the colon, while during BTE feeding, they were consumed in the distal colon, while 3-phenylpropionic acid was strongly produced. Gut microbial production of phenolics and SCFAs is dependent on colon location and polyphenol source, which may influence potential health benefits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Camellia sinensis / chemistry
  • Camellia sinensis / metabolism*
  • Colon / metabolism*
  • Colon / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Metagenome
  • Models, Biological
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism*
  • Polyphenols / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity
  • Tea / metabolism
  • Vitis / chemistry
  • Vitis / metabolism*
  • Wine / analysis*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Tea