Distribution of procyanidins and their metabolites in rat plasma and tissues in relation to ingestion of procyanidin-enriched or procyanidin-rich cocoa creams.
BACKGROUND
Procyanidins are extensively metabolized via phase-II and microbial enzymes. However, their distribution in the body is not well characterized.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the distribution of procyanidins (monomers and dimers) and their phase-II metabolites in plasma and tissues (thymus, heart, liver, testicle, lung, kidney, spleen and brain).


METHODS
Wistar rats were fed with 1 g of cocoa cream (CC), 50 mg of procyanidin hazelnut skin extract (PE) and 50 mg PE in 1 g CC (PECC). The rats were killed at 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 18 h after gavage, and the plasma and tissues were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS.


RESULTS
Epicatechin-glucuronide was the main metabolite in the plasma after the CC intake, with C(max) at 423 nM and t(max) at 2 h, and methyl catechin-glucuronide (301 nM, 2 h) was the main metabolite in the plasma after the PE intake. As a result of the PECC enrichment, epicatechin-glucuronide (452 nM, 1.5 h) and catechin-glucuronide (297 nM, 2 h) were the main metabolites in the plasma. Methyl catechin-glucuronide was found in the liver after PE (8 nmol/g tissue, 4 h) and PECC (8 nmol/g, 1.5 h). The kidney was found to contain a high concentration of phase-II metabolites of procyanidins and is therefore thought to be the main site of metabolism of the compounds. Methyl catechin-sulfate (6.4 nmol/g, 4 h) was only quantified in the brain and after PE intake. Catechin metabolites were not found in the spleen or heart. Phenolic acids were detected in all tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The formulation of a product enriched or fortified with procyanidins is a way to increase their bioavailability, with clear effects on the plasmatic pharmacokinetics, and a greater accumulation of phenolic metabolites in such tissues as the liver, kidney, lung and brain.
Department of Food Technology, XaRTA-UTPV, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agrària, Universitat de Lleida, Avda/Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
Aida
A
Serra
Alba
A
Macià
Laura
L
Rubió
Neus
N
Anglès
Nàdia
N
Ortega
José Ramón
JR
Morelló
Maria-Paz
MP
Romero
Maria-José
MJ
Motilva
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D031211:Corylus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D005527:Food, Fortified; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013030:Spain; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000975:Antioxidants; D020719:Glucuronides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; C523149:epicatechin-glucuronide; D002392:Catechin