Comprehensive study of the intestinal absorption of four phenolic compounds after oral administration of Ananas comosus leaf extract in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

The extract of Ananas comosus leaf (EAL) was proved to be antihyperlipidemia and antihyperglycemia consisting of rich phenolic acids. Pharmacokinetic study showed p-coumaric acid was a rich compound detected in the mouse plasma after EAL oral administration. The aim of this study was to explore the alteration of the absorption of four principle phenolic compounds through the intestines by oral administration. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was used to detect the phenolic compounds in EAL. The assay for the absorption of the small intestines of mice was employed in vivo and in vitro. According to our results, 1-O-p-coumaroylglycerol and 1-O-caffeoylglycerol would be converted into p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid by passing though the intestines. Caffeic acid might be transformed into a new compound with relative molecular mass of 359 in liver. The phenolic components of EAL were absorbed mainly in the form of p-coumaric acid while caffeic acid were absorbed through the intestines. p-Coumaric acid and caffeic acid are considered the active components of EAL in the body.