Metabolic pathways of the colonic metabolism of flavonoids (flavonols, flavones and flavanones) and phenolic acids

Flavonoids are metabolized by the gut microflora giving rise to a wide range of phenolic acids that may exert systemic effects in the body. Nevertheless, the colonic metabolism pathways and the function of the metabolites formed are poorly studied. In the present study, the individual colonic metabolism of three subclasses of flavonoids (flavonols, flavones and flavanones) and phenolic acids was evaluated. For this, seven standards of flavonoids (quercetin, quercetin–rhamnoside, quercetin–rutinoside, myricetin, luteolin, naringenin and kaempferol–rutinoside) and two phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid and gallic acid) were submitted to an in vitro fermentation model using rat colonic microflora. Simultaneously, a nuts–cocoa cream enriched with these standards of flavonoids was incubated and the colonic metabolism of these compounds was evaluated. The results showed that the greatest number of colonic metabolites came from the fermentation of quercetin and quercetin–rhamnoside, and the maximum concentration of fermentation products was observed after 48 h of fermentation. On the other hand, a smaller number of fermentation products were observed after the colonic fermentation of kaempferol–rutinoside, naringenin, luteolin and myricetin. The phenolic acids were slightly metabolized by the colonic microflora.