Pharmacokinetic study of the absorption and metabolism of Montmorency tart cherry anthocyanins in human subjects

Abstract

Anthocyanins found in tart cherries have been shown to function as antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory agents. The in vivo bioavailability of anthocyanins from the ingestion of whole fruits or vegetables and their potential biologic effects have not been well characterized.This study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins in healthy human subjects following the ingestion of a measured dose of tart cherries. We quantified five major anthocyanin compounds in Montmorency cherries as cyanidin 3‐glucosylrutinoside, followed by cyanidin 3‐rutinoside, cyanydin sophoroside, peonidin 3‐glucoside and pelargonidin for the estimation of the tart cherry dose. Samples from human subjects were collected at specified time points over a 14 hour time period. Our preliminary results indicate that anthocyanin metabolites can be identified and quantified in human blood and urine using Liquid Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry (LC‐MS) analysis. The consumption of whole fruit tart cherries resulted in the appearance of two unmodified anthocyanins in plasma: cyanidin 3‐glucosylrutinoside and cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside, and three modified anthocyanins in urine: cyanidin‐xylosylxyloside, pelarogonidin‐xylosylxyloside, and methylated peonidin‐xylosyloside. In order to determine clinical relevance, further work is planned to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of human plasma after ingestion of tart cherries.

The efficacy of a tart cherry drink for the treatment of patellofemoral pain in recreationally active individuals: a placebo randomized control trial

“…As such, although the amount of consumed supplement was monitored, the bioavailability of anthocyanins from the ingestion of tart cherries was unknown. Uhley et al [63] have shown that anthocyanin metabolites can be identified in human blood and urine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. Therefore, future trials investigating the effects of tart cherry supplementation should seek to examine the extent of anthocyanin absorption.…”

EPR Studies of O2•−, OH, and 1O2 Scavenging and Prevention of Glutathione Depletion in Fibroblast Cells by Cyanidin-3-rhamnoglucoside Isolated from Fig (Ficus carica L.) Fruits

“…There is evidence that cyanidin-3-glycosides are metabolized as glucuronidated and methylated versions of the parent compounds, which affect absorption and molecule redox (50). On the other hand, Uhley and co-workers (51) showed that the consumption of whole fruit tart cherries by healthy humans resulted in the appearance of two unmodified anthocyanins in plasma: cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. In another study, researchers suggested that 3-O-β-rutinosyl anthocyanins, including C3R, were directly absorbed and distributed to the blood (52).…”