Dynamic Gastrointestinal Simulation Reveals that Short-Term Mango Purée Feeding Modulates (Poly)phenol Metabolism, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Activity.

The simgi® dynamic gastrointestinal simulator was fed 10 g/day of mango purée for five days, providing 89.5 µmol of phenolic compounds, and inoculated with fecal microbiota from three healthy donors.

• Samples were collected from the stomach, small intestine, and three colon compartments (ascending, transverse, and descending).
• Analysis was performed by UHPLC-HRMS to identify parent compounds and metabolites.
• Microbial communities were profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• Metabolic activity was assessed through short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonium (NH4+) determination.

Mango (poly)phenols underwent extensive microbial metabolism primarily in the colon, generating benzoic, phenylpropanoic, cinnamic acids and hydroxybenzenes, along with a reduction in galloyl derivatives.

• Metabolite generation occurred primarily in the colonic fermentation phase.
• Identified metabolite classes included benzoic acids, phenylpropanoic acids, cinnamic acids, and hydroxybenzenes.
• A reduction in galloyl derivatives was observed during colonic fermentation.
• UHPLC-HRMS was used to identify both parent compounds and microbially-generated metabolites.

Total (poly)phenol content showed a progressive and significant increase during the feeding period in the colonic fermentation phase.

• Total (poly)phenol content in the colonic phase rose from 66 µmol at the stabilization stage to 174 µmol after 96 h of feeding.
• This represents an approximately 2.6-fold increase over the feeding period.
• The increase was described as 'progressive and significant' across the feeding period.
• The accumulation was specifically observed in the colonic fermentation phase, not in stomach or small intestine.

Short-term mango feeding modulated gut microbiota composition, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial taxa such as Bifidobacterium spp. across colonic compartments.

• Changes in Bifidobacterium spp. relative abundance were observed across ascending, transverse, and descending colonic compartments.
• Microbial community profiling was conducted using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• The modulation was observed over the five-day feeding period.
• The increase in Bifidobacterium spp. was characterized as representing beneficial taxa associated with a healthier gut environment.

A marked increase in butyric acid production was observed in the ascending colon during mango purée feeding.

• Butyric acid concentration in the ascending colon rose from 6 mM to 47 mM during the feeding period.
• This represents an approximately 7.8-fold increase in butyric acid production.
• The increase was described as 'marked' and was specifically localized to the ascending colon.
• Butyric acid is a short-chain fatty acid associated with colonocyte health and anti-inflammatory effects.

A significant reduction in ammonium concentration was detected across all colonic compartments during the mango feeding period.

• Ammonium (NH4+) concentration decreased from 275 mg/L to 51 mg/L by the end of the experiment.
• This represents an approximately 81% reduction in ammonium concentration.
• The reduction was observed across all three colonic compartments (ascending, transverse, and descending).
• Reduced ammonium production is associated with decreased proteolytic fermentation and a healthier gut environment.