3-Hydroxy-6-Methylpyridine with Preventive Activity on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury Is Produced During Roasting of Coffee Beans

Abstract

Compounds which can be formed over the course of roasting coffee beans were investigated and isolated. One of these compounds was identified as 3-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine (3,6-Py). 3,6-Py and the coffee prepared from light-roasted coffee beans which contain this compound tended to suppress increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice, indicating that 3,6-Py formed during the roasting of coffee beans may be able to mitigate liver injury. The amounts of 3,6-Py were higher in French-roasted than light-roasted coffee beans of the Brazil Santos and Colombia Excelso varieties, suggesting that this compound might be produced under a more severe roasting condition. However, suppressive activity against liver injury was stronger in coffee from light-roasted than French-roasted beans. As the amounts of chlorogenic acid, which is known to have hepatoprotective activity, were higher in coffee from the light-roasted than French-roasted beans, stronger hepatoprotective activity in the coffee from light-roasted beans might be mainly concerned with its higher content of chlorogenic acid.