Issue 2, 2015

Enhancement of flavonoid ability to cross the blood–brain barrier of rats by co-administration with α-tocopherol

Abstract

Vitamin E and polyphenols could exhibit a therapeutic role in the treatment of oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents an important issue to be explored by different diet combinations. In this study, we have evaluated the ability of α-tocopherol to support epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), quercetin and rutin to cross the BBB, following oral administration. Eighteen rats were fed a standard diet (C), a diet supplemented with α-tocopherol (A), with a mixture of EGCG, quercetin and rutin (P); or with a mixture of α-tocopherol and the three flavonoids (AP). Flavonoids and their conjugated derivatives were assayed in brain and plasma by HPLC-MS, whereas α-tocopherol was detected by RP-HPLC. The oxidative damage, due to the potential pro-oxidant activity of flavonoids, was evaluated by the presence of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in hippocampal Cornus Ammonis, one of the most vulnerable sites in the brain. Our results indicate that α-tocopherol is able to promote quercetin transport across the BBB. The mixture of rutin and quercetin seems to favour the accumulation of quercetin and/or its conjugated derivatives in the brain. In contrast, α-tocopherol does not affect EGCG transport across the BBB. The densitometric analysis of 8-OHdG immunoreactivity does not reveal any difference of oxidative damage among the experimental groups. Our results suggest that α-tocopherol may promote quercetin transport across the BBB, leading to a significant increase of α-tocopherol and quercetin concentration in the brain.

Graphical abstract: Enhancement of flavonoid ability to cross the blood–brain barrier of rats by co-administration with α-tocopherol

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
12 Sep 2014
Accepted
20 Nov 2014
First published
21 Nov 2014

Food Funct., 2015,6, 394-400

Author version available

Enhancement of flavonoid ability to cross the blood–brain barrier of rats by co-administration with α-tocopherol

P. Ferri, D. Angelino, L. Gennari, S. Benedetti, P. Ambrogini, P. Del Grande and P. Ninfali, Food Funct., 2015, 6, 394 DOI: 10.1039/C4FO00817K

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