Metabolic pathway and blood brain barrier permeability of anthocyanin component and its metabolites

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K11113
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Nigata University of Phermacy and Applied Life Sciences
• Principal Investigator: MATSUMOTO HITOSHI 新潟薬科大学, 応用生命科学部, 教授 (00566292)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: Anthocyanin / blood brain barrier / nobiletin / equol / isoflavone

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cassis and strawberry anthocyanins (AC) were concentrated to prepare an extract powder of about 10% AC content. These extracts were administered to rats, and AC and its metabolites in blood, urine, and brain were quantitatively analyzed. AC and its metabolites were detected in urine, small amounts were detected in blood and brain, and it was confirmed that they were absorbed and transferred into the blood and excreted. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was evaluated with a BBB kit. As a result, AC and its metabolites did not permeate BBB, and Epigallocatechin was confirmed to permeate. Daidzein, Genistein, Equol, and Nobiletin showed high BBB permeability. Rutin, Fisetin, Resveratrol, and Curcumin showed low BBB permeability. Regarding AC, it does not permeate BBB, and the brain function improving effect of AC is not direct effect in brain by AC or metabolites, it is a secondary effect, for example, improving blood circulation.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒト臨床試験などでアントシアニン(AC)の摂取が、認知機能低下の抑制効果があることが報告されている。また、そのメカニズムとして、神経細胞培養系にACを添加して、機能性を評価するin vitro試験が報告されている。しかし、ACの血液脳関門(BBB)の透過性については評価されていなかった。そこで、食品由来のACをラットに経口摂取させ、脳中のACと代謝物量を測定し、極微量検出した。また、キットを用いて透過性を評価したが、いずれも透過しなかった。よって、脳で検出されるACは、脳血管に吸着していて、脳には到達していないと判断された。AVの認知機能改善効果は、血流改善等による二次的な効果と考えられた。