The anticancer properties of bioactive phytochemicals within berries are of interest given the inverse correlation of fruit and vegetable consumption with the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). Berries are one of the most commonly consumed sources of polyphenols and these compounds may exert protective effects against initiation of CRC by reducing DNA damage. The purpose of the study was to assess the bioactivity of raspberry phytochemicals identified in vivo with respect to markers of gut health. Ileal fluid was collected from eleven ileostomates, pre and post consumption of red raspberries (200g) and assessed for phytochemical composition by LCMSn. We then simulated the interaction of the colonic microbiota and the ileal fluids (pre and post berry consumption) using 24 h in vitro gut fermentation modelling, which resulted in a significant increase in the presence of simple phenolic compound(s) including benzoic acid. The post-berry ileal fermentate from 9 of the 11 ileostomates significantly decreased DNA damage (~40%) in the CCD841 CON normal cell line using an oxidative challenge COMET assay; however, this protective effect was not observed for pre-berry samples. In addition, the ileal fermentates modulated the gene expression of the Nrf2-ARE pathway involved in oxidative stress cytoprotection, namely nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase, Quinone-1 (NQO1) and Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). To conclude, following consumption of raspberries, phytochemicals survive digestion in the gut and likely enter the colon in vivo. We have demonstrated that the physiologically relevant berry enriched ileal fermentate reduces DNA damage in normal colonocytes which may be mediated in part by the Nrf2-ARE pathway.

Raspberry (poly)phenolics exert bioactivity following in vivo digestion

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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