Phenolic compounds' impact on gut microbiota: Insights from in vitro batch fecal fermentation for composition modulation.

Ellagic acid exhibited prebiotic properties by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and producing short-chain fatty acids.

• Ellagic acid promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
• Ellagic acid stimulated production of SCFAs including acetic, propanoic, and butyric acids.
• Analysis was conducted via in vitro batch fermentation with fecal samples from healthy donors.
• Microbial composition was assessed through 16S metagenomics sequencing.

Phloroglucinol exhibited prebiotic properties by promoting beneficial bacterial growth and SCFA production.

• Phloroglucinol promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
• Phloroglucinol stimulated production of SCFAs including acetic, propanoic, and butyric acids.
• Results were obtained using in vitro batch fecal fermentation with fecal samples from healthy donors.
• SCFAs were measured using gas chromatography.

Naringenin was associated with the growth of pathogenic bacterial genera rather than beneficial bacteria.

• Naringenin was linked to the growth of pathogenic genera including Escherichia and Salmonella.
• In contrast to ellagic acid and phloroglucinol, naringenin did not demonstrate prebiotic properties.
• This finding was derived from in vitro batch fermentation with fecal samples from healthy donors analyzed via 16S metagenomics sequencing.

Three phenolic compounds—ellagic acid, naringenin, and phloroglucinol—were individually assessed for their effects on human gut microbiota composition using in vitro batch fermentation.

• Fecal samples from healthy donors were used for in vitro batch fermentation.
• Microbial community composition was analyzed through 16S metagenomics sequencing.
• Short-chain fatty acids were quantified using gas chromatography.
• The study aimed to address the underexplored individual effects of phenolic compounds on human gut microbiota.

Phenolic compounds are both metabolized by gut microbiota and capable of modulating its composition.

• The bidirectional relationship between phenolic compounds and gut microbiota has been widely studied to explore health benefits of these bioactive dietary compounds.
• Individual effects of specific phenolic compounds on human gut microbiota were described as remaining underexplored prior to this study.
• The study contributes to potential pharmaceutical or nutraceutical developments based on phenolic compound-microbiota interactions.