Planta Med 2014; 80 - P2B71
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394948

Role of human gut microbiota metabolism in the anti-inflammatory effect of traditionally used ellagitannin-rich plant materials

JP Piwowarski 1, S Granica 1, M Zwierzyńska 1, J Stefańska 2, AK Kiss 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy, Medical University of Warsaw, Faculty of Pharmacy ul. Banacha 1, 02 – 097 Warsaw, Poland
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology Medical University of Warsaw, Oczki 3, 02 – 007 Warsaw, Poland

Ellagitannin-rich plant materials are applied in traditional medicine as the effective internally used anti-inflammatory agents. Due to the not well-established bioavailability of ellagitannins the mechanisms of observed therapeutic effects following oral administration still remain unclear.The aim of the study was to evaluate if selected ellagitannin-rich plant materials could be the source of bioavailable gut microbiota metabolites- urolithins together with determination of their influence on adhesion molecules levels on the surface of human neutrophils.The formation of urolithins was determined by ex vivo incubation of human fecal samples with aqueous extracts from selected plant materials. The anti-inflammatory activity study of metabolites was determined on cytochalasin A/f-MLP stimulated neutrophils. The levels of selectin CD62L and integrin CD11b/CD18 were determined using flow cytometry. The formation of urolithin A, B and C by human gut microbiota was established for aqueous extracts from Filipendula ulmaria herb (Ph. Eur.), Geranium pratense herb, Geranium robertianum herb, Geum urbanum root and rhizome, Lythrum salicaria herb (Ph. Eur.), Potentilla anserina herb, Potentilla erecta rhizome (Ph. Eur.), Quercus robur bark (Ph. Eur.), Rubus idaeus leaf, Rubus fruticosus and pure ellagitannin vescalagin.The prevention of CD62L shedding was observed only in cells incubated with urolithin B at the concentration of 5 and 20µM. Its activity was comparable with quercetin used as a positive control. No influence on cytochalasin A/f-MLP triggered increased CD11b expression was observed for all tested compounds. Obtained data clearly indicate that in the case of internal use of examined ellagitannin-rich plant materials the bioactivity of gut microbiota metabolites- urolithins has to be taken under consideration.

Acknowledgements: Project financially supported by Polish National Science Center grant DEC-2011/03/N/NZ7/01785 and PhD scholarship DEC-2013/08/T/NZ7/00011.

Keywords: ellagitannins, urolithins, neutrophils, inflammation, gut microbiota