Antioxidant properties of polyphenols from snow chrysanthemum () and the modulation on intestinal microflora .

CONTEXT

Nutt (Asteraceae), named snow chrysanthemum, is known to have a high level of polyphenols. However, the potential prebiotic effect on modulating intestinal microflora is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The chemical composition, antioxidant properties of snow chrysanthemum polyphenols (SCPs) and their effects on human intestinal microbiota were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SCPs were extracted using ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and further determined using UPLC-QE Orbitrap/MS. Five assays were used to investigate the antioxidant activities of SCPs. Subsequently, the effects of SCPs on intestinal microbiota were determined by high throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTS

Marein, isookanin and cymaroside were the major phenolic compounds, which accounted for 42.17%, 19.53% and 12.25%, respectively. Marein exhibited higher scavenging capacities in DPPH (EC = 8.84 µg/mL) and super anion radical assay (EC = 282.1 µg/mL) compared to cymaroside and isookanin. The antioxidant capacity of cymaroside was weakest among the three phenolic compounds due to the highest EC values, especially for superoxide anion radical assay, EC > 800 µg/mL. The result of fermentation showed that the three phenolic compounds increased the relative abundances of , , , etc., and isookanin notably increased the relative abundance of and .

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

SCPs exhibited antioxidant properties and potential prebiotic effects on modulating the gut microbiota composition. The findings indicated that SCPs consumption could exert prebiotic activity that is beneficial for human health.