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. 2023 Jul 27;10:1184535. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1184535

Table 1.

Examples of research studies that aimed to determine a link between bioaccessibility testing (simulated digestion) and bioactivity in the case of functional foods and nutraceuticals or dietary supplements of plant origin.

No. Nutraceutical/functional food and plant species Determined bioaccessibility (or analogous methods of quantification) and bioactivity after simulated digestion Effect of simulated digestion on bioactivity References
Phenolic compounds
1. Rehydrated wild and commercial blackberries (Rubus spp.) Decrease % (after IP)
70% in wild and 68.35% in commercial berries (TPC)
74% in wild and 75% in commercial berries (TAC)
52% in wild and 56% in commercial berries (ORAC)
43.8% in wild and 41.6% in commercial berries (DPPH)
40.47% in wild and 46.73% in commercial berries (ABTS)
SD decreased TPC and TAC after IP
SD decreased antioxidant activity (for ORAC, DPPH, ABTS), depending on the fruit sort
(21)
Increase % (after IP)
56% in wild and 23% in commercial berries (Caco-2 cells cytotoxicity, as EC50)
SD decreased the cytotoxicity of samples after IP
2. Passion fruit peel 70% ethanolic extract (Passiflora edulis) Recovery index (after IP)
97% (TPC), 84.4% (TFC), 25.8% (TAC)
Decrease in activity (after IP)
32% (DPPH), 30% (FRAP)
Increase in activity (after IP)
17% (ABTS)
SD decreased phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins
SD decreased α-glucosidase inhibitory activity
SD decreased the DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activity, but increased the ABTS scavenging activity
(22)
3. Broccoli sprouts ethanolic extracts (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) Antioxidant BA index (after IP)
1.09 (lipid peroxidation inhibition), 0.39 (chelating power), 0.44 (ABTS), 1.75 (FRAP)
SD decreased the antioxidant effect
No correlation between SD and antiproliferative effect
(23)
4. Quinoa leaves ethanolic extracts (Chenopodium quinoa) Antioxidant BA index (after IP)
1.52 (chelating power), 4.37 (reducing power), 1.32 (lipid peroxidation inhibition), 4.74 (ABTS), 0.41 (lipoxygenase inhibitory activity)
SD decreased the antioxidant effect, but increased lipoxygenase inhibitory activity (24)
5. Black mulberry jam (Morus nigra) Increase in recovery (as %)
Fruit: 12% (TPC), 1% (TMA), 14% (ABTS)
Jam: 16% (TPC), 12% (TMA), 37% (ABTS)
SD decreased phenolics and antioxidant activity
Jam processing had a higher recovery after SD compared to raw fruits
(25)
6. Fennel waste capsules (Foeniculum vulgare) Acid resistant capsules – BA*
23.84% (TPC, DP), 63,14% (TPC, CP)
35.21% (DPPH, CP), 47.46% (ABTS, CP), 62.60% (FRAP, CP)
SD decreased TPC and antioxidant activity, but the highest values in SD were for CP
During SD, acid-resistant capsules provided a higher antioxidant effect due to a higher polyphenol content
(26)
Non-acid resistant capsules – BA*
20,92% (TPC, DP), 42.58% (TPC, CP)
26.06% (DPPH, CP), 36.72% (ABTS, CP), 43.90% (FRAP, CP)
7. Encapsulated lyophilized powder from tea extracts (acid-resistant capsules) (Camellia sinensis) Green tea - BA
23.77% for DP and 108.85% for CP (total phenolics)
CP showed a higher antioxidant effect and TP
DP showed a significantly lower antioxidant effect and TP
(27)
White tea - BA
19.33% for DP and 102.21% for CP (total phenolics)
Black tea - BA
13.00% for DP and 112.26% for CP (total phenolics)
8. Health supplement mix with tart cherry extract and mineral clay (Prunus cerasus) BA
109.5% for GP and 26.7% for DP (anthocyanins)
115.4% for GP and 177.1% for DP (ORAC)
SD decreased anthocyanin content, especially after DP
SD increased antioxidant activity (ORAC), possibly because of other classes of bioactive compounds
(28)
Carotenoids
9. Encapsulated carotenoids from red pepper waste (Capsicum annuum) Freeze-dried encapsulates – BA
20.4% after SD (for total carotenoids)
40.24% for GP and 50.51% for IP (BCB)
SD decreased total carotenoids, higher BA for freeze-dried encapsulates
SD increased antioxidant activity of carotenoids compared to GP
(29)
Spray-dried encapsulates - BA
15,05% after SD (for total carotenoids)
31.56% for GP and 55.53% for IP (BCB)
10. Powders obtained from seed-used pumpkin byproducts (Cucurbita maxima) 18 mesh-sized powder - BA (after IP, relative to GP)
12.67% (total carotenoid relative BA)
35.8% (DPPH)*, 75% (FRAP)*
SD decreased total carotenoid relative BA and the antioxidant activity
Increased antioxidant activity when 2% corn oil was used (for DPPH and FRAP)
(30)
18 mesh-sized powder and 2% corn oil- BA (after IP, relative to GP)
27.0% (total carotenoid relative BA)
64.1% (DPPH)*, 95.7% (FRAP)*
11. Methanolic extracts of dried and juiced black plum (Syzygium caryophyllatum) Fresh fruit – BA (after IP)
9.75% (β-carotene), 5.11% (lycopene), 15.29% (TPC), 33.65% (TFC)
4.55% (TACap)*, 61.42% (ABTS)*
SD decreased β-carotene and lycopene content, TPC and TFC
SD decreased the antioxidant activity (TACap and ABTS)
(31)
Dried fruit – BA (after IP)
43.53% (β-carotene), 9.48% (lycopene), 7.30% (TPC), 14.36% (TFC)
3,86% (TACap)*, 81.66% (ABTS)*
Juice – BA (after IP)
35% (β-carotene), 10.39% (lycopene), 7.37% (TPC), 21,69% (TFC)
2.55% (TACap)*, 33.49% (ABTS)*

BA, bioaccessibility; SD, simulated digestion; GP, gastric phase; IP, intestinal phase; CP, colon phase; DP, duodenal phase; UD, undigested; BCB, beta-carotene bleaching assay; TAC, total anthocyanin content; TACap, total antioxidant capacity; TFC, total flavonoid content; TPC, total phenolic content; TMA, total monomeric anthocyanins.

*The values have been calculated using data from the article, if the final bioaccessibility value was not available.