Polyphenols are secondary plant compounds showing anticarcinogenic effects both in vitro and in animal experiments and may thus reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in man. The identification of polyphenol metabolites formed via their passage through the small intestine of healthy ileostomy subjects after apple juice consumption is presented. Identification and quantification of polyphenols and their metabolites were performed using HPLC-DAD as well as HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Total procyanidin content (TPA) was measured, and additionally the mean degree of polymerization (DPm) of the procyanidins was determined in the apple juice and ileostomy effluents. As products of polyphenol metabolism, D-(-)-quinic acid and methyl esters of caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid are liberated from the corresponding hydroxycinnamic acid esters. 1-Caffeoylquinic acid and 3-caffeoylquinic acid were determined as products of isomerization. Phloretin 2'-O-glucoside (phloridzin) and phloretin 2'-O-xyloglucoside were metabolized into the corresponding aglycons phloretin and phloretin 2'-O-glucuronide and all were found in the ileostomy effluent. Ninety percent of the consumed procyanidins were recovered in the ileostomy effluent and therefore would reach the colon under physiologic circumstances. The DP m was reduced (DP m of apple juice=5.7) and varied depending on the time point of excretion. The gastrointestinal passage seems to play an important role in the colonic availability of apple polyphenols.
The findings relating to the absorption, metabolism, and systemic availability of polyphenols in vivo should contribute to our understanding of their biological effects, and the characterization of newly formed metabolites should facilitate further studies.
The polyphenol profile of apples and that of technologically differently treated apple juices has already been studied thoroughly; nevertheless, the content of polymeric procyanidins has not received much attention up to date. Therefore, procyanidins in extracts made from six blended apple juices and two authentic clear as well as cloudy apple juices (Malus domestica cv. Bohnapfel and Bittenfelder) were investigated. Our determinations revealed significant differences in the total procyanidin content between apple juice extracts obtained from clear and the corresponding cloudy juices under study. Depending on the apple cultivars used average amounts of total procyanidin content determined in the extracts made from clear and cloudy juices ranged from 28.4 +/- 4.4% to 49.0 +/- 5.7% and from 48.3 +/- 0.3% to 60.6 +/- 0.3%, respectively. As the mean degree of polymerization (DPm) is supposed to have an influence on bioavailability and toxicity on different cells lines used in in vitro systems, the average degree of polymerization of the juices under examination were determined. Depending on the cultivar used and the technology of juice processing the DPm ranged between 3.0 and 13.4.
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