Microbial metabolism of catechin stereoisomers by human faecal microbiota: Comparison of targeted analysis and a non-targeted metabolomics method

Microbial metabolism of the stereoisomers (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin was compared by two analytical techniques, GUMS for quantitative targeted analysis and GCxGC-TOF for global characterization of the metabolome, using human faecal microbiota as an inoculum of converting microbiota. The ring-fission site changed when the inocula originated from two different groups of donors, but dehydroxylation progressed similarly regardless of the inoculum. Whereas GUMS proved to be an appropriate tool for the study of specific expected metabolites of catechin stereoisomers, GCxGC-TOF-based metabolomics analysis also revealed new metabolites not included in the targeted analyses. Quantitation and verification of identification can also be performed in a metabolomics platform, if authentic standards are available. (C) 2007 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.