The Role of High-Resolution Analytical Techniques in the Development of Functional Foods

Abstract

The approaches based on high-resolution analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance or mass spectrometry coupled to chromatographic techniques, have a determining role in several of the stages necessary for the development of functional foods. The analyses of botanical extracts rich in bioactive compounds is one of the fundamental steps in order to identify and quantify their phytochemical composition. However, the compounds characterized in the extracts are not always responsible for the bioactive properties because they generally undergo metabolic reactions before reaching the therapeutic targets. For this reason, analytical techniques are also applied to analyze biological samples to know the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and/or metabolism of the compounds ingested by animal or human models in nutritional intervention studies. In addition, these studies have also been applied to determine changes of endogenous metabolites caused by prolonged intake of compounds with bioactive potential. This review aims to describe the main types and modes of application of high-resolution analytical techniques in all these steps for functional food development.

Recent Analytical Approaches for the Study of Bioavailability and Metabolism of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds

“…In g urine samples are usually collected after establishing several time intervals for bette itoring of metabolite excretion. In the case of urine in human models, it is mostly co at the following intervals: (0-2), (2-5), (5)(6)(7)(8) and (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) h. In animal assays, they are u Urine samples are of special interest, since the excreted metabolites may be a reflection of the metabolic transformations produced in the original compounds of the extract. Regarding this type of sample, there are studies that use only a single interval of sample collection [59,60] and studies that use multiple collection intervals [58,61].…”

“…In general, urine samples are usually collected after establishing several time intervals for better monitoring of metabolite excretion. In the case of urine in human models, it is mostly collected at the following intervals: (0-2), (2-5), (5)(6)(7)(8) and (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) h. In animal assays, they are usually collected at the end of the experiment. Similar to plasma samples, some authors recommend establishing the urine sample collection up to 48 h after ingestion in order to have a greater coverage of all possible microbial metabolites [43].…”

“…Furthermore, chromatographic techniques, especially liquid chromatography (LC) or gas chromatography (GC), are of great importance, especially in metabolomics, when they are used coupled to MS, since they are capable of producing a previous separation of the compounds, improving selectivity and reducing complexity and matrix effects [71]. All of these techniques also have a fundamental role in different stages for the development of functional foods [16]. Despite the versatility of analytical techniques, most bioavailability and metabolism studies have mainly been based on high-or ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS and UHPLC-MS, respectively).…”

“…[57] Urine (−2-0), (0-2), (2-5), (5-8), (8)(9)(10)(11)(12), (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) h…”

“…Although these metabolization reactions have been known for years, there has been an increase in nutritional intervention studies in recent years, with the aim of achieving a better understanding the bioavailability and metabolism of extracts or bioactive compounds. This increased interest in this field of research may be related to advances in instrumental techniques (i.e., mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and chromatographic techniques) [16], data-processing tools and databases [17]. In fact, all of these aspects are integrated in the area of metabolomics, which focuses on the study of low-molecular-weight molecules and has experienced an exponential increase in studies in the last decade [13].…”