Recent Analytical Approaches for the Study of Bioavailability and Metabolism of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds

Abstract

The study of the bioavailability of bioactive compounds is a fundamental step for the development of applications based on them, such as nutraceuticals, functional foods or cosmeceuticals. It is well-known that these compounds can undergo metabolic reactions before reaching therapeutic targets, which may also affect their bioactivity and possible applications. All recent studies that have focused on bioavailability and metabolism of phenolic and terpenoid compounds have been developed because of the advances in analytical chemistry and metabolomics approaches. The purpose of this review is to show the role of analytical chemistry and metabolomics in this field of knowledge. In this context, the different steps of the analytical chemistry workflow (design study, sample treatment, analytical techniques and data processing) applied in bioavailability and metabolism in vivo studies are detailed, as well as the most relevant results obtained from them.

Keywords: analytical chemistry; bioactive compounds; bioavailability; chromatography; mass spectrometry; metabolism; metabolomics; phenolic compounds; phytochemicals; untargeted.

Figure 1

Typical experimental design for the evaluation of bioavailability and metabolism in plasma, urine and stool samples.

Figure 2

Main families of phenolic compounds that have been studied through bioavailability and metabolism studies.

Figure 3

Main phase II metabolism reactions of phenolic compounds.