title: Metabolism of myricetin and related compounds in the rat. Metabolite formation in vivo and by the intestinal microflora in vitro.
abstract: 1. The metabolism of a group of polyphenols related in structure to myricetin (3,5,7,3',4',5'-hexahydroxyflavone), including myricetin, myricitrin, 3,4,5-trihydroxyphenylacetic acid, delphinidin, robinetin, tricetin, tricin, malvin and 5,7-dihydroxy-3',4',5'-trimethoxyflavone, has been studied both in vivo after oral administration to the rat and in vitro in cultures of micro-organisms derived from the intestine of the rat. 2. It was shown that the rat intestinal microflora are able to degrade compounds of this group to the ring-fission products observed in urine after oral administration of the specific flavonoid. 3. All flavones and flavonols possessing free 5- and 7-hydroxyl groups in the A ring and a free 4'-hydroxyl group in the B ring gave rise to ring-fission products that included 3',5'-dihydroxyphenylacyl derivatives. 4. The metabolites 3,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid and 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid were isolated and identified by chromatographic and spectral methods. 5. On anaerobic incubation in a thioglycollate medium it was shown that intestinal micro-organisms can effect cleavage of glycosidic bonds, ring fission of certain flavonoid molecules showing 3',4',5'-trihydroxyphenyl substitution and dehydroxylation of certain flavonoid metabolites. 6. The urinary excretion of the metabolites 3,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid was completely abolished when neomycin-treated rats were used.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006713:Homogentisic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D006713:Homogentisic Acid