Urolithins are microflora

metabolite In biochemistry, a metabolite is an intermediate or end product of metabolism. The term is usually used for small molecules. Metabolites have various functions, including fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, c ...

s of dietary ellagic acid derivatives, such as ellagitannins. They are produced in the gut, and found in the urine in the form of urolithin B glucuronide after absorption of ellagitannins-containing foods, such as pomegranate. During intestinal metabolism by bacteria, ellagitannins and punicalagins are converted to urolithins, which have unknown

biological activity In pharmacology, biological activity or pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's active ingredient or ...

''in vivo''. Ellagitannins exhibit low bioavailability and are transformed in the gut to ellagic acid and its microbiota metabolites. Urolithins are found in plasma mostly as glucuronides at low concentrations. Urolithins production is dependent on the gut microbiome enterotype. Individuals producing urolithins show a much higher abundance of the '' Clostridium leptum'' group of Firmicutes phylum than '' Bacteroides'' or '' Prevotella''.

Known molecules

* Urolithin A (3,8-Dihydroxyurolithin) * Urolithin A glucuronide * Urolithin B (3-Hydroxyurolithin) * urolithin B glucuronide *

Urolithin D Urolithins are microflora metabolites of dietary ellagic acid derivatives, such as ellagitannins. They are produced in the gut, and found in the urine in the form of urolithin B glucuronide after absorption of ellagitannins-containing foods, such ...

(3,4,8,9-Tetrahydroxyurolithin) catabolic intermediates: *

Urolithin M-5 Urolithins are microflora metabolites of dietary ellagic acid derivatives, such as ellagitannins. They are produced in the gut, and found in the urine in the form of urolithin B glucuronide after absorption of ellagitannins-containing foods, such ...

* Urolithin M-6 * Urolithin M-7 * Urolithin C ( 3,8,9-Trihydroxy urolithin) * Urolithin E ( 2,3,8,10-Tetrahydroxy urolithin)

References

{{Ellagitannin Benzochromenes Coumarins Phenolic human metabolites

Known molecules

See also

References