Flavan‐3‐ol/Procyanidin Metabolomics in Rat Urine Using HPLC‐Quadrupole TOF/MS

Scope Several studies have demonstrated that flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins are associated with biological functions in the prevention of various chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. Knowledge of their mechanisms, including bioavailability, has significantly progressed in the last decade. However, the differences of the metabolic signatures among flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins remain ambiguous. Methods and results The metabolites in urine over time after acute administration of three typical flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins ((epi)catechin [EPC], epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG], and procyanidin dimer [PC]) in view of the chemical structure were analyzed by HPLC‐quadrupole TOF/MS. Several bile acid and amino acid derivatives including tryptophan and tyrosine, as well as flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidin conjugates and phenolic acid degradation products generated by the gut microbiota were observed in rat urine. Conclusion Multivariate statistical analyses suggest that the exogenous and endogenous metabolites of flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins greatly differ, although the chemical structures of three typical flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins—EPC, EGCG, and PC—are similar. Thus, metabolomic differences likely affect their biological functions and health benefits. The metabolites in urine are analyed time‐dependently after acute administration of three typical flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins ((epi)catechin [EPC], epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG], and procyanidin dimer [PC]) by high‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analyses suggest that the exogenous and endogenous metabolites of flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins greatly differ, although the chemical structures of three typical flavan‐3‐ol/procyanidins—EPC, EGCG, and PC—are similar.