Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) – phytochemical characterization of the constituents and their metabolites present in the urine

Traditionally-used medical plants, such as silver birch, might be useful in supporting antimicrobial therapy and the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI) [1]. Their constituents, metabolized and excreted in the urine, might act therapeutically on the infected urinary tract or even get activated by uropathogens’ own enzymes [2]. Presented research is focused on describing urine metabolites of birch leaves infusion.

The UHPLC-DAD-MSⁿ was used for the sample analysis. The lyophilized water infusion of leaves of Betula pendula was examined. Volunteers on the low polyphenol diet were drinking B. pendula infusion for several days and delivered the urine samples. The urine was purified with SPE, and metabolites‘ fraction was obtained. Metabolites were incubated with uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC).

Based on the phytochemical screening of the plant extract, the major groups of constituents are flavonoids and depsides. The main group of metabolites were various glucuronides. Additional compounds were detected after incubation with UPEC.

The B. pendula infusion contains various compounds of established anti-UTI activity. The presence of their metabolites in the urine was confirmed. Some of them are metabolized furtherly by UPEC.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021

• References

• 1 Cai et al., Arch Ital Urol Androl, 2017
• 2 Schindler et al., J Clin Pharnacol., 2002