Dietary polyphenols and their immuno-modulating effects: implications during parasite-induced inflammation in the gut

Polyphenols are a group of intensively studied compounds and their diverse effects on the immune system have encouraged a multitude of interdisciplinary research to study them. We are investigating proanthocyanidins, which are among the most common dietary polyphenols, to assess their impact on gut inflammation caused by a helminth infection.

In this study, were purified from cocoa, grape seeds and alpine currant, by series of extractions, ephadex separation (19 samples), and semi-preparative liquid chromatography (152 samples). The samples were analyzed by Ultra igh Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and their mean degree of polymerization (mDP) and procyanidin/prodelphinidin ratios were assessed.

In order to identify the most active compounds, each ephadex sample was initially tested in-vitro on murine RAW 264.7 macrophages, to assess impact on cytokine secretion. Seven of the eight grape seed fractions reduced IL-6 secretion, and we found a correlation between high mDPs and high cytokine secretion for the fractions of alpine currant. The cocoa fractions had low mDPs and showed limited IL-6 suppression.

Following further in-vitro investigations, active samples will be selected to assess their effects on mucosal immune responses to parasitic infection in a mouse model.