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Plant Polyphenols and Gut Health

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2021) | Viewed by 34227

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: nutrition; food chemistry; phytochemistry; diet-related diseases; physiology of the digestive system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10 Tuwima Street, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: in vivo experiments; nutrition; oxidative stress; inflammation; obesity; liver disorders; gut-microbiota-derived metabolites; metabolic disorders; interaction between the gut and liver
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: nutrition; food chemistry; metabolomics; bioactive compounds; diet-related diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gut health can be defined as the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract connected with the absence of illnesses peculiar to this part of the body. A healthy gut largely depends on nutritional factors, of which polyphenols of plant origin are gaining more and more attention. Plant polyphenols are a wide group of compounds, the structure of which determines their characteristic chemical properties, low biological availability, and diverse biological activities. As a consequence of low bioavailability, polyphenols strongly interact within individual parts of the gastrointestinal tract, which makes them potentially important in maintaining and improving gut health.

This Special Issue is devoted to all chemical aspects of plant polyphenols, including their methods of isolation and analytical characterization, and especially to their structure-activity relationships within the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, the identification, characterization, and profiling of polyphenol metabolites within the gastrointestinal tract; polyphenol interactions with non-digestible saccharides and other dietary components; and the effects of polyphenols and their metabolites on the development of gastrointestinal disorders are also important topics for this Special Issue.

Dr. Adam Jurgoński
Dr. Bartosz Fotschki
Dr. Tomasz Sawicki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • polyphenols
  • phenolic acids
  • polyphenol metabolites
  • polyphenol interactions
  • structure-activity relationships
  • gut functions
  • gastrointestinal disorders
  • intestinal microbiota
  • intestinal integrity

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Review

15 pages, 776 KiB  
Review
Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Polyphenols: Anti-Inflammatory Intestinal Microbial Health Benefits, and Associated Mechanisms of Actions
by Hyemee Kim, Maria Joselyn Castellon-Chicas, Shirley Arbizu, Stephen T. Talcott, Nicholas L. Drury, Shayna Smith and Susanne U. Mertens-Talcott
Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2732; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092732 - 06 May 2021
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9283
Abstract
Mango is rich in polyphenols including gallotannins and gallic acid, among others. The bioavailability of mango polyphenols, especially polymeric gallotannins, is largely dependent on the intestinal microbiota, where the generation of absorbable metabolites depends on microbial enzymes. Mango polyphenols can favorably modulate bacteria [...] Read more.
Mango is rich in polyphenols including gallotannins and gallic acid, among others. The bioavailability of mango polyphenols, especially polymeric gallotannins, is largely dependent on the intestinal microbiota, where the generation of absorbable metabolites depends on microbial enzymes. Mango polyphenols can favorably modulate bacteria associated with the production of bioactive gallotannin metabolites including Lactobacillus plantarum, resulting in intestinal health benefits. In several studies, the prebiotic effects of mango polyphenols and dietary fiber, their potential contribution to lower intestinal inflammation and promotion of intestinal integrity have been demonstrated. Additionally, polyphenols occurring in mango have some potential to interact with intestinal and less likely with hepatic enzymes or transporter systems. This review provides an overview of interactions of mango polyphenols with the intestinal microbiome, associated health benefits and underlying mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Polyphenols and Gut Health)
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18 pages, 1956 KiB  
Review
Gastroprotective Effects of Polyphenols against Various Gastro-Intestinal Disorders: A Mini-Review with Special Focus on Clinical Evidence
by Hui-Fang Chiu, Kamesh Venkatakrishnan, Oksana Golovinskaia and Chin-Kun Wang
Molecules 2021, 26(7), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26072090 - 06 Apr 2021
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 6457
Abstract
Polyphenols are classified as an organic chemical with phenolic units that display an array of biological functions. However, polyphenols have very low bioavailability and stability, which make polyphenols a less bioactive compound. Many researchers have indicated that several factors might affect the efficiency [...] Read more.
Polyphenols are classified as an organic chemical with phenolic units that display an array of biological functions. However, polyphenols have very low bioavailability and stability, which make polyphenols a less bioactive compound. Many researchers have indicated that several factors might affect the efficiency and the metabolism (biotransformation) of various polyphenols, which include the gut microbiota, structure, and physical properties as well as its interactions with other dietary nutrients (macromolecules). Hence, this mini-review covers the two-way interaction between polyphenols and gut microbiota (interplay) and how polyphenols are metabolized (biotransformation) to produce various polyphenolic metabolites. Moreover, the protective effects of numerous polyphenols and their metabolites against various gastrointestinal disorders/diseases including gastritis, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like celiac disease (CED) are discussed. For this review, the authors chose only a few popular polyphenols (green tea polyphenol, curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin), and a discussion of their proposed mechanism underpinning the gastroprotection was elaborated with a special focus on clinical evidence. Overall, this contribution would help the general population and science community to identify a potent polyphenol with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, prebiotic, and immunomodulatory properties to combat various gut-related diseases or disorders (complementary therapy) along with modified lifestyle pattern and standard gastroprotective drugs. However, the data from clinical trials are much limited and hence many large-scale clinical trials should be performed (with different form/metabolites and dose) to confirm the gastroprotective activity of the above-mentioned polyphenols and their metabolites before recommendation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Polyphenols and Gut Health)
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17 pages, 1173 KiB  
Review
Lignans and Gut Microbiota: An Interplay Revealing Potential Health Implications
by Alice Senizza, Gabriele Rocchetti, Juana I. Mosele, Vania Patrone, Maria Luisa Callegari, Lorenzo Morelli and Luigi Lucini
Molecules 2020, 25(23), 5709; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235709 - 03 Dec 2020
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 5394
Abstract
Plant polyphenols are a broad group of bioactive compounds characterized by different chemical and structural properties, low bioavailability, and several in vitro biological activities. Among these compounds, lignans (a non-flavonoid polyphenolic class found in plant foods for human nutrition) have been recently studied [...] Read more.
Plant polyphenols are a broad group of bioactive compounds characterized by different chemical and structural properties, low bioavailability, and several in vitro biological activities. Among these compounds, lignans (a non-flavonoid polyphenolic class found in plant foods for human nutrition) have been recently studied as potential modulators of the gut–brain axis. In particular, gut bacterial metabolism is able to convert dietary lignans into therapeutically relevant polyphenols (i.e., enterolignans), such as enterolactone and enterodiol. Enterolignans are characterized by various biologic activities, including tissue-specific estrogen receptor activation, together with anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects. However, variation in enterolignans production by the gut microbiota is strictly related to both bioaccessibility and bioavailability of lignans through the entire gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the most important dietary source of lignans, exploring the interesting interplay between gut metabolites, gut microbiota, and the so-called gut–brain axis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Polyphenols and Gut Health)
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12 pages, 1072 KiB  
Review
Gut/Oral Bacteria Variability May Explain the High Efficacy of Green Tea in Rodent Tumor Inhibition and Its Absence in Humans
by Guy R. Adami, Christy Tangney, Joel L. Schwartz and Kim Chi Dang
Molecules 2020, 25(20), 4753; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204753 - 16 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2190
Abstract
Consumption of green tea (GT) and GT polyphenols has prevented a range of cancers in rodents but has had mixed results in humans. Human subjects who drank GT for weeks showed changes in oral microbiome. However, GT-induced changes in RNA in oral epithelium [...] Read more.
Consumption of green tea (GT) and GT polyphenols has prevented a range of cancers in rodents but has had mixed results in humans. Human subjects who drank GT for weeks showed changes in oral microbiome. However, GT-induced changes in RNA in oral epithelium were subject-specific, suggesting GT-induced changes of the oral epithelium occurred but differed across individuals. In contrast, studies in rodents consuming GT polyphenols revealed obvious changes in epithelial gene expression. GT polyphenols are poorly absorbed by digestive tract epithelium. Their metabolism by gut/oral microbial enzymes occurs and can alter absorption and function of these molecules and thus their bioactivity. This might explain the overall lack of consistency in oral epithelium RNA expression changes seen in human subjects who consumed GT. Each human has different gut/oral microbiomes, so they may have different levels of polyphenol-metabolizing bacteria. We speculate the similar gut/oral microbiomes in, for example, mice housed together are responsible for the minimal variance observed in tissue GT responses within a study. The consistency of the tissue response to GT within a rodent study eases the selection of a dose level that affects tumor rates. This leads to the theory that determination of optimal GT doses in a human requires knowledge about the gut/oral microbiome in that human. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Polyphenols and Gut Health)
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19 pages, 570 KiB  
Review
Polyphenols and Other Bioactive Compounds of Sideritis Plants and Their Potential Biological Activity
by Dorota Żyżelewicz, Kamila Kulbat-Warycha, Joanna Oracz and Kacper Żyżelewicz
Molecules 2020, 25(16), 3763; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25163763 - 18 Aug 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 10209
Abstract
Due to the growing problem of obesity associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, causes of obesity are extensively investigated. In addition to a high caloric diet and low physical activity, gut microbiota disturbance may have a potential impact on excessive weight [...] Read more.
Due to the growing problem of obesity associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, causes of obesity are extensively investigated. In addition to a high caloric diet and low physical activity, gut microbiota disturbance may have a potential impact on excessive weight gain. Some reports indicate differences in the composition of the intestinal microflora of obese people in comparison to lean. Bioactive compounds of natural origin with beneficial and multifaceted effects on the body are more frequently used in prevention and treatment of many metabolic diseases including obesity. Sideritis scardica is traditionally consumed as mountain tea in the Balkans to strengthen the body and improve mood. Many reports indicate a positive effect on digestive system, weight loss, and prevention of insulin resistance. Additionally, it exhibits antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects. The positive effect of Sideritis scardica extracts on memory and general cognitive abilities is indicated as well. The multilevel positive effect on the body appears to originate from the abundant occurrence of phenolic compounds, especially phenolic acids in Sideritis scardica extracts. However, mechanisms underlying their action require careful discussion and further research. Therefore, the objective of this review is to summarize the available knowledge on the role and mechanism of action of biologically active compounds of Sideritis scardica and other related species from the genus Sideritis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Polyphenols and Gut Health)
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