title: Catabolism of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin by rat intestinal microbiota.
abstract: Catabolism of (+)-catechin (+C) and (-)-epicatechin (EC) by rat intestinal microbiota was examined in vitro. +C and EC metabolites isolated were identified by LC-MS and NMR analyses. As a result, 4-hydroxy-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid (C-5 and EC-5), 4-oxo-5-(3,4-dihydorxyphenyl)valeric acid (EC-7), 4-oxo-5-(3-hydorxyphenyl)valeric acid (EC-8), and 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-ol (EC-13) were identified as new metabolites of +C or EC. From the measurement of optical rotation, each of the +C and EC metabolites possessing the same chemical structure and chiral carbon was inferred to have an enantiomeric relationship to each other and to maintain the configurations at the 3-position of the original catechins. On the basis of these findings together with previous information, the proposed metabolic pathway of +C and EC by rat intestinal microbiota was updated.
authors.affiliation: Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Company, Ltd. , 223-1 Miyabara, Fujieda-shi, Shizuoka 426-0133, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takagaki
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nanjo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D010421:Pentanoic Acids; D002392:Catechin; C038780:n-pentanoic acid