Insights into the intestinal bacterial metabolism of flavonoids and the bioactivities of their microbe-derived ring cleavage metabolites

Xinchi Feng, Yang Li, Mahmood Brobbey Oppong, Feng Qiu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Flavonoids are a group of phytochemicals widely distributed in plants, fruits, and vegetables that possess numerous bioactivities. After oral administration, flavonoids can be metabolized by the intestinal bacteria into a wide range of low-molecular-weight phenolic acids. In this review, the intestinal bacterial metabolic pathways of different flavonoids (flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanones, and chalcones) and the bioactivities of their microbe-derived ring cleavage metabolites are summarized. Flavonoids undergo different intestinal bacterial metabolic reactions, depending on the characteristics of their structure. Free hydroxyl groups, especially 5 and 4’ free hydroxyl groups play significant roles in fission metabolism. Microbe-derived ring cleavage metabolites such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (3,4-DHPAA) and 3,4-dihydroxytoluene (3,4-DHT) possess various bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and anti-colon cancer effects. Also, the intestinal bacteria associated with the bacterial metabolism of flavonoids are covered in this review.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)343-356
Number of pages14
JournalDrug Metabolism Reviews
Volume50
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Flavonoids
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antioxidant
  • intestinal bacterial metabolism
  • microbe-derived metabolites
  • phenolic acids

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Insights into the intestinal bacterial metabolism of flavonoids and the bioactivities of their microbe-derived ring cleavage metabolites'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this