Intestinal transport and absorption of bioactive phenolic compounds from a chemically characterized aqueous extract of Athrixia phylicoides. (22nd March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bowles, Sandra L.; Ntamo, Yonela; Malherbe, Christiaan J.; Kappo, Abidemi M.P.; Louw, Johan; Muller, Christo J.F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 200(2017)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2017-03-22
• Subjects: protocatechuic acid (PubChem CID: 72) -- caffeic acid (PubChem CID: 689043) -- para-coumaric acid (PubChem CID: 637542) -- chlorogenic acid (PubChem CID: 1794427) -- cryptochlorogenic acid (PubChem CID: 9798666) -- neochlorogenic acid (PubChem CID: 5280633) -- 3, 4 di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID: 5281780) -- 3, 5 di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID: 6474310) -- 4, 5 di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (PubChem CID: 6474309); Athrixia phylicoides -- Caco-2 transport -- Protocatechuic acid -- Caffeic acid -- Para-coumaric acid; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.02.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Athrixia phylicoides, popularly known as "bush tea", is an indigenous aromatic shrub found in mountainous and grassland areas of the northern and eastern parts of southern Africa. The plant is traditionally used for the treatment of several ailments, including coughing, treating infected wounds, treating boils and sore throat, hypertension and heart disease. Potential anti-diabetic effects have also been demonstrated in vitro. Aim of the study: To investigate the intestinal transport of prominent phenolic constituents, across a fully differentiated Caco-2 monolayer, using a characterized aqueous extract of A. phylicoides, previously shown to have bioactivity. Materials and methods: HPLC-DAD and LC/MS analyses were used to identify the major phenolic compounds within the extract. Intestinal transport of the phenolic compounds was assessed using a differentiated Caco-2 monolayer model in order to predict bioavailability and identify metabolite formation. Rate of transport, efflux and percentage cross-over were calculated for the respective phenolic compounds. Results: Nine prominent compounds, present in the aqueous extract of A. phylicoides, were identified. Of these, three phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid and para -coumaric acid), crossed the Caco-2 cell monolayer in significant amounts, with Papp values of 4.52, 4.35 (×10 −6 cm/s) and 2.38 (×10 −5 cm/s), respectively. para -Coumaric acid was shown to have the highest predicted bioavailability. Conclusions: Para -Coumaric acid, identified for the first time in A. phylicoides, was shown to have the highest predicted bioavailability suggesting that it could play a major role in the bioactivity of A. phylicoides . Graphical abstract: