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Bioavailability of rutin and quercetin in rats
Author(s) -
Manach Claudine,
Morand Christine,
Demigné Christian,
Texier Odile,
Régérat Françoise,
Rémésy Christian
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00467-5
Subject(s) - rutin , quercetin , isorhamnetin , bioavailability , chemistry , antioxidant , food science , flavonoid , glycoside , biochemistry , polyphenol , quercitrin , pharmacology , biology , organic chemistry , kaempferol
Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant which is widely distributed in edible plants, mainly as glycosides such as rutin. It has been reported to be absorbed in mammals, but its metabolism needs further investigation to evaluate its possible physiological effects. We compared the evolution of the absorption of quercetin and rutin in rats fed with supplemented diets. Rutin was absorbed more slowly than quercetin because it must be hydrolysed by the cecal microflora, whereas quercetin was absorbed from the small intestine. Conjugated derivatives of quercetin, and its methylated forms isorhamnetin and tamarixetin, were recovered in plasma from rats receiving the two kinds of experimental diets after the first meal, but after 10 days, no traces of tamarixetin were detected anymore. The rate of elimination of quercetin metabolites seems very low, and high plasma concentrations are easily maintained with a regular supply of quercetin or rutin in the diet.