Influence of dihydrocaffeic acid and quinic acid on lung metabolism and function: Implications for dietary...

Due to environmental pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic, subclinical and clinical respiratory diseases have received significant attention. There is growing interest in the potential beneficial effects of dietary interventions on lung health, with various foods reported to impact pulmonary well-being positively. Dihydrocaffeic acid (DCA) and quinic acid (QA) are dietary supplements and gut metabolites derived from foods rich in caffeoylquinic acids, the two compounds exhibit notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, LC-MS analysis was employed to investigate the metabolic changes in the lung tissue of mice under physiological conditions administered DCA and QA, respectively. In comparison with the control group, 39 and 38 differential metabolites of lungs were separately identified in DCA-treated and QA-treated mice. The administration of DCA and QA can both influence lung function and homeostasis, mainly through the same pathways, accompanied by their own characteristics. The pathways including arginine biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism, are regulated by both DCA and QA, whereas the regulating effects of DCA and QA on arginine metabolism and oxidative stress levels are different. These results provide evidence that DCA and QA can positively influence lung function and that foods rich in DCA, QA, or caffeoylquinic acids are beneficial for the respiratory system.