Pharmacokinetics of low molecular weight phenolic compounds in gerbil plasma after the consumption of calafate berry (Berberis microphylla) extract

Abstract

Calafate is a berry with high concentration of anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids that grows in South Patagonia. To date, no metabolism studies of phenolic compounds using calafate have been carried out. A calafate extract was characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. After extract administration (300 mg/kg), a pharmacokinetic study of phenolic compounds in gerbil plasma was performed by GC-MS/MS. Sixteen phenolic acids increased after intake. Phenylacetic acid derivatives exhibit the highest concentration, while main increase of phenolic catabolites was observed 2 h post-intake. 3-hydroxyphenylacetic and phenylacetic acids increased at 4-8 h post-intake. All catabolites found in gerbil plasma exhibit concentration peaks between 0.1 and 1 µM, however no parental anthocyanins were detected. Establish in vivo plasmatic concentration ranges of phenolic compounds derived from polyphenol consumption following WHO recommendations, plays a key role to carry out future in vitro assays in order to correctly assign biological benefits of calafate berry consumption.

Keywords: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid (PubChem CID: 547); 3-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid (PubChem CID: 12122); Berberis microphylla; Bioavailability; Calafate; GC–MS; Homovanillic Acid (PubChem CID: 1738); Hydroquinone (PubChem CID: 785); Pharmacokinetics; Phenolic acid; Phenylacetic Acid (PubChem CID: 999); Plasma; Syringic Acid (PubChem CID: 10742); Vanillic Acid (PubChem CID: 8468); m-Coumaric Acid (PubChem CID: 637541); p-Coumaric Acid (PubChem CID: 637542).