Abstract
We have investigated the intestinal absorption and metabolism of the polyphenols contained in Acanthopanax sieboldianus Makino (Ukogi in Japanese) in rat plasma using a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Ukogi mainly contained chlorogenic acid, rutin, and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside. These polyphenols were detected in non-hydrolyzed rat plasma 0.5 hour after oral administration, and the concentration of rutin was 13.6 ± 3.65 nM. The metabolized compounds of kaempferol sulfoglucuronide and 3'-O-methylquercetin sulfoglucuronide were identified by exact mass determination and exact mass mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in the plasma of rats fed a 5 % Ukogi diet for 8-24 days. Antioxidant potential of the metabolized compounds is discussed concerning a beneficial effect in the body via antioxidation caused by not only scavenging superoxide but also blocking superoxide generation.
