Cranberry
procyanidins and
quercetin derivatives are considered possible active compounds against
urinary tract infections (UTIs). In this paper a small group (n=6) of healthy subjects consumed a product containing 360mg of cranberry extract (42.6% w/w of PAC-A and 14.6% w/w of PAC-B) and 200mg of
quercetin. Urine samples were collected after 2,4,6,8, and 24h. The changes in antiadhesive properties against urophatogenic E. coli of the urinary output were determined in vitro and modification to urinary metabolome were studied by LC-MS. Significant antiadhesive properties of urine samples were observed, with the greatest effect 6-8h after
oral administration, confirming the possible usefulness of cranberry containing products in
urinary tract infections (UTI). Metabolomic analysis revealed that
valeric acid and valerolactone derivatives that were detected in 6 and 8h sample, while 4-hydroxy-5-(phenyl)-valeric
acid-O-
glucuronide and 5-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone at 6h and 4-hydroxy-5-(phenyl)-valeric
acid-O-sulphate, 3-hydroxyphenyl-valeric
acid, 5-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone-4'-O-glucuronide and 4-hydroxy-5-(3'-hydroxyphenyl)-valeric acid-3'-O-sulphate were the most abundant at 8h. The present study shows that the antiadhesive properties of urine sample after cranberry consumption are not ascribable to the direct effect of PAC-A, because their levels in urinary output are in the range of ng/mL. On the other hand, significant metabolites that were detected are mainly metabolites of intestinal action on
polyphenols and PACs, as well as glucuronidated and sulphated
quercetin, suggesting an important role of intestinal modification of phytoconstituents in the cranberry extract mechanism of action.