How do our bodies metabolise flavonoids?
With plant-based lifestyles becoming more popular, the power of foods such as broccoli, celery and tofu, rich in flavonoids, is becoming clearer. Flavonoids are phenolic compounds produced by plants. They also have long been said to have therapeutic and preventive effects against cancer and heart disease; however, the process of how our bodies metabolise flavonoids is unclear.
A team of researchers led by Tsutomu Shimada and Professor Shigeo Takenaka of the Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology at Osaka Metropolitan University has shed light on the mechanism of three major flavonoids — naringenin, apigenin and genistein — and the processes by which they are metabolised by the body. Molecular docking analyses found that human enzymes modify flavonoids in a similar way to how plants do.
“The results of this research are fundamental in elucidating the correlation between the metabolism of flavonoids in the body and their potential health benefits,” Takenaka said.
The researchers published their findings in Chemical Research in Toxicology.
Beefing up the flavour of cultured meat
Scientist working towards perfecting the taste of lab-grown 'cultured' meat are a step...
Drinking coffee linked with healthy aging in women
A study has found women who consumed caffeinated coffee in midlife are more likely to exhibit...
Diversifying Western Australia's apple industry with juicy new products
The Cook government is helping WA's apple industry to diversify and add value with products...
