Company insight
Water-extracted botanicals and the gut microbiome
As an increasing number of studies suggest the significant role of the gut microbiome in overall health and well-being, researchers are now closely examining the dietary components that can contribute to improved health. Among diets, the Mediterranean-style is particularly noteworthy with its emphasis on consuming fruits and plant-based products. Euromed explains how its water-extracted botanicals can potentially improve gut health and overall well-being.
ietary interventions altering the composition of gut microbiota are promising to support healthy ageing and enhance well-being. Following a Mediterranean-style diet – typically characterised by its emphasis on healthy fats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans – has been linked to changes in the microbiome. These include increasing beneficial gut bacteria, which is associated with improved health outcomes such as reduced frailty, improved cognition, and lower levels of inflammatory markers. There is growing evidence that suggests the gut microbiome plays a significant role in transforming the foods we consume into metabolites with greater biological activity and improved pharmacokinetics. Research on the gut microbiome and plant phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, has shed light on the potential health benefits of the components of a Mediterranean-style diet. As an example, pomegranate contains ellagitannins punicalagins that gut bacteria can convert into more bioactive and bioavailable urolithins. Similarly, lemon flavanone eriocitrin can produce highly bioactive hesperetin metabolites. Botanical extracts can act as precursors to physiologically active metabolites that offer a range of improved health benefits. These metabolites are also useful markers for confirming extracts bioavailability.
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Five a day keeps the doctors away Pomanox, a pomegranate extract with multiple evidence-based health properties, has shown urinary excretion of phenolic metabolites and the presence of urolithins in blood and urine after oral intake.
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Additionally, Wellemon lemon fruit extract, standardised for high eriocitrin content, is superior to an orange extract with high hesperidin content in terms of bioavailability. Eriocitrin is a flavanone glycoside found in high concentrations in lemon fruit, and its higher water solubility means it is more easily absorbed by the gut. Cynamed, an artichoke bud extract containing inulin and polyphenols, has shown prebiotic potential by increasing bifidobacteria levels and stimulating the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Microbiome-targeted dietary
The use of demineralised water – produced by the Pure Hydro Process by Euromed – together with the quality of the starting material, and other factors can also affect the yield and antioxidant properties of botanical extracts containing polyphenols and flavonoids. The safest and most natural approach is to concentrate the target molecules and preserve the complete phytochemical profile as it exists in nature. Additionally, the bioavailability of botanical extracts can be influenced by an individual’s genetic make-up, age, diet, and gut microbiome composition.
“Botanical extracts can act as precursors to physiologically active metabolites that offer a range of improved health benefits.”
strategies including the Mediterranean- style diet, polyphenols, prebiotics, probiotics and microbial metabolites such as SCFAs, have numerous documented health benefits – particularly in ageing populations, when a loss of gut microbiota diversity can occur and is associated with increased frailty and reduced cognitive performance.
These dietary strategies work by modulating the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which can affect multiple systems in the body, including the immune system, metabolism and the brain.
Something in the water Water extraction is an eco-friendly method for extracting polar phytochemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids from plant materials. It works to enhance their bioavailability by improving their solubility and gut absorption.
Pomanox, Wellemon and Cynamed are examples of standardised herbals for improving health outcomes, particularly in ageing, when there is a decline in gut microbiota diversity and efficiency. The use of water extraction safely enhances the bioavailability of their metabolic products, increasing the potential health benefits of the whole plant matrix. With a growing interest in natural products and personalised nutrition, investigation of the health properties of water-extracted botanicals and their biotransformed compounds can provide valuable insights into their mechanisms of action, either as single extracts or in combination for potential synergy. Their improved solubility may facilitate interactions with the gut microbiome and the production of bioactive metabolites. ●
www.euromedgroup.com Ingredients Insight /
www.ingredients-insight.com
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