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Polyphenols Cause Structure Dependent Effects on the Metabolic Profile of Human Hepatocarcinogenic Cells

Andrea Gerdemann1, Melissa Broenhorst1, Matthias Behrens1

  • 1Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany.

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|September 6, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Polyphenols significantly alter human cell metabolism, impacting key pathways like the urea cycle and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). These metabolic changes may explain their known health benefits, including anticancer effects.

Area of Science:

  • Metabolomics
  • Cellular Metabolism
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Polyphenols are common dietary compounds with many attributed health benefits.
  • Their precise impact on the human metabolome remains largely unknown.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing physiological and toxicological impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the effects of various polyphenols on the human metabolome.
  • To investigate structure-activity relationships among different polyphenol classes.
  • To correlate metabolic alterations with polyphenol chemical structures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the human hepatocarcinogenic HepG2 cell line.
  • Employed High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).
  • Analyzed 13 polyphenols and 3 degradation products, focusing on structure-activity relationships.

Main Results:

  • Polyphenols induce widespread metabolic effects, notably in the urea cycle and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP).
  • Higher hydroxylation in catechins correlated with greater metabolic impact.
  • Compound stability, potentially linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS), influenced PPP modulation.
  • Methoxylated flavones showed reduced activity; B-ring position had no impact.

Conclusions:

  • Polyphenols broadly affect cellular energy metabolism, the PPP, and the urea cycle.
  • Observed metabolic alterations provide a mechanistic link to their reported bioactivities.
  • These findings support the potential anticarcinogenic and other health benefits of polyphenols.
Keywords:
HepG2 cellsflavonoidsmass spectrometrymetabolomicsphenylpropanoids

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