title: Human gut microbial degradation of flavonoids: structure-function relationships.
abstract: The relationship between chemical structure and gut microbial degradation rates of 14 flavonoids, flavone, apigenin, chrysin, naringenin, kaempferol, genistein, daidzein, daidzin, puerarin, 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone, 6,4'-dihydroxyflavone, 5,4'-dihydroxyflavone, 5,3'-dihydroxyflavone, and 4'-hydroxyflavone, was investigated by anaerobically fermenting the flavonoids with human gut microflora (n = 11 subjects). Degradation rates for the 5,7,4'-trihydroxyl flavonoids, apigenin, genistein, naringenin, and kaempferol, were significantly faster than the other structural motifs. Puerarin was resistant to degradation by the gut microflora. Extensive degradation of flavonoids by gut microflora may result in lower overall bioavailability than those flavonoids that are slowly degraded because rapidly degrading flavonoids are less likely to be absorbed intact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 2312 Food Sciences Building, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Andrean L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Renouf
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendrich
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids