The olive oil secoiridoids oleacein (OLEA) and oleocanthal (OLEO) bear diverse health
promoting and disease preventing abilities; yet, there is a lack of data concerning
their ADMET properties, due to their challenging isolation and detection. Furthermore,
the beneficial effects of many dietary polyphenols on human health are partly attributed
to their biotransformation occurring during colonic metabolism by human gut microbiota.
Since biotransformation studies of OLEO and OLEA are limited, we aimed towards a detailed
investigation of their absorption, metabolism and microflora-dependent conversions,
using the Gastro-Intestinal Dialysis Model with Colon (GIDM-Colon). This model is
an optimized, validated in vitro continuous flow dialysis system, simulating the physiological conditions of the human
GI tract, including human gut microbiota.
Throughout the GIDM-Colon model, biological samples were collected at crucial timepoints
up to 24 h of colonic phase.
Overall, several new metabolites of OLEA and OLEO were identified incorporating statistical,
chromatographic and spectrometric tools incorporating an LC-Orbitrap platform. The
metabolism patterns seemed to differ greatly among the two compounds. Catechol group
of OLEA, was more prone to biotransformation reactions while the elenolic part of
both secoiridiods underwent extensive oxidation yielding oleocanthalic acid in both
compounds. Oleocanthalic acid was detected during stomach and small intestine phase
while managed to survive the 24h of colonic catabolism
Funding (PlantUp, 5002803)
