Inflammation and bowel disease: potential protection by flavanols and procyanidins

FRAGA C.G.; ERLEJMAN A.G.; OTEIZA P.I.

Paris, Francia

Simposio; 2nd international symposium on Nutrition, Oxygen Biology and Medicine, French Society for Free Radical Research; 2007

French Society for Free Radical Research

It is accepted that the major actions of ingested flavanol oligómeros (procyanidins) are limited to the gut lumen where they could protect the integrity of the epithelium, acting for example as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. Using cultured Caco-2 cells as a model of intestinal epithelium we investigated the capacity of hexameric procyanidins to interact with cell membranes, and prevent consequent oxidative damage and pro-inflammatory event. A purified fraction of hexamers of epicatechin (hex) isolated from cocoa was assayed at physiological relevant concentrations. Hex interacted with Caco-2 cells membranes protecting from the selective loss of cell monolayer permeability, and the increase production of cell oxidants. These protective effects were observed when the cells were challenged by either a bile acid or free radical generator. When cells were subjected  to pro-inflammatory conditions, Hex inhibit tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a)-induced cell oxidant increase, and TNF-a-induced NF-kB activation. The inhibition of NF-kB activation was observed at different levels of the signaling cascade. In conclusion, dietary procianidinas that are not absorbed at the gut lumen can protect the intestine mucosa from oxidant and pro-inflammatory stimuli. These effects stress the potential capacity of plant flavan-3-ols and derived procyanidins to ameliorate the colonic inflammation processes associated with inflammatory bowel disease, as well as other pathological conditions.