Study of gut fermentation of proanthocyanidin from Passiflora tenuifila: metabolomic approach

• Grant number: 23/12988-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Neuza Mariko Aymoto Hassimotto
• Grantee: Neuza Mariko Aymoto Hassimotto
• Host Investigator: Victor Costa Castro Alves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Örebro University, Sweden
• Associated research grant: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Passion fruit (Passiflora tenuifila) is a native Brazilian fruit with a high flavan-3-ol content, especially proanthocyanidins. The health benefits associated with their consumption are attributed to the gut derived-catabolites, resulting from their metabolization by the gut microbiota. Among these compounds, derivates of phenyl-³-valerolactones and phenyl-valeric acid, and other phenolic acids, has been described as one of the main metabolites with biological action. However, just as the microbiota could affect the quantity and profile of catabolites, once these catabolies are formed, they can transiently alter the microbiota´s profile. We therefore propose an internship at the MTM Research Center, Örebro University, Sweden, to study the metabolism of proanthocyanidins from passion fruit, native to the Cerrado, in colonic fermentation in vitro, using a untargeted metabolomic approach. It will also provide theoretical and practical technical training in the application of the untargeted metabolomics approach to explore human metabolism. The knowledge in this issue will help in the implementation and improvement of routine pipelines for untargeted metabolomic analysis in our laboratory, as well as enabling future collaborations between the research groups. (AU)