Biological activities of food bioactives generally depend on their bioavailability and sometimes more on the bioactivity of the metabolites. The identification of metabolites of bioactives and their potential bioactivities become increasing important for understanding the health benefits of food bioactives. Metabolites of several common food bioactives, namely, nobiletin, curcumin and pterostilbne will be discussed. Major metabolite of nobiletin, 3',4'-didemethylnobiletin exhibits more potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promotion effects than nobiletin. Tetrahydrocurcumin, the major metabolite of curcumin, induces autophagic cell death in human leukemia HL-60 cell and is more effective than curcumin in preventing azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis. Similarly, the 3'-hydroxypterostilbene, one of metabolites of pterostilbene exhibits more potent anti-inflammatory activity compare to pterostilbene.

Metabolites of food bioactives may exhibit stronger bioactivity

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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