Planta Med 2011; 77(9): 888-893
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250664
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dose-dependent Effects of Polyphenolic Extracts from Green Tea, Blue-Berried Honeysuckle, and Chokeberry on Rat Caecal Fermentation Processes

Slawomir Frejnagel1 , Jerzy Juskiewicz1
  • 1Department of Biological Functions of Food, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
Further Information

Publication History

received Sept. 10, 2009 revised Nov. 16, 2010

accepted Dec. 5, 2010

Publication Date:
14 January 2011 (online)

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Abstract

The physiological status of the colon or ceacum is known to be very important for the host organism. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the influence of high doses of polyphenolic extracts from chokeberry (CH), blue-berried honeysuckle (H), and green tea (GT) on fermentation processes in the caecum and caecal parameters of rats fed casein diets. In a 4-week experiment, 35-day-old rats were fed diets containing 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 % of pure polyphenols. The greatest weight of digesta was recorded in rats fed 1.2 % of GT extract, and these animals were also characterised by having the lowest content of dry matter. Supplementation of diets with the extracts of interest caused a reduction in pH values and ammonia concentrations in caecal digesta in comparison to control animals. The results of a two-way analysis of variance indicated dose-dependent (except for 0.4 % supplementation) inhibition of enzymatic activity compared to control animals. Introduction of CH and H extracts significantly reduced the activity of β-glucuronidase compared to rats fed tea diets. Two-way analysis of variance showed a significant decrease in volatile fatty acids concentration in rats fed diets supplemented with H and CH extracts in comparison to control and tea-fed rats. The obtained results showed that the extracts tested can distinctly influence caecal parameters and metabolism.