An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.

<h4>Background & objective</h4>Theanine (L-glutamylethylamide) contained in green tea is a functional food component that has been attracting attention due to its relaxation effect. It was shown that the ingredients added to the theanine formulations increased the absorption of thean...

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Main Authors: Yuki Sato, Kazuki Yamaguchi, Mikako Ogawa, Yoh Takekuma, Mitsuru Sugawara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253066
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spelling doaj-38f43b4a19994eff938f8a8a369fd91e2021-06-24T04:31:06ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01166e025306610.1371/journal.pone.0253066An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.Yuki SatoKazuki YamaguchiMikako OgawaYoh TakekumaMitsuru Sugawara<h4>Background & objective</h4>Theanine (L-glutamylethylamide) contained in green tea is a functional food component that has been attracting attention due to its relaxation effect. It was shown that the ingredients added to the theanine formulations increased the absorption of theanine. If this mechanism can be elucidated, it would be possible to contribute to development of evidence-based formulations. In this study, we investigated the effect of ingredients in the formulations on the absorption of theanine in detail.<h4>Main methods</h4>After oral administration of a mixture of theanine and additional components to Wistar rats the plasma concentration was determined by an HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. In addition, a new system for evaluating intestinal blood flow was developed since the involvement of intestinal blood flow was considered as a factor that increased absorption of theanine.<h4>Key findings</h4>Plasma concentration of theanine increased significantly in the combined use group with eight ingredients containing piperine as compared with theanine only group. Piperine would increase theanine absorption by increased blood flow, not an inhibition of metabolism. We succeeded to develop a visual and quantitative system to evaluate the effect of these ingredients directly including piperine on the intestinal blood flow using indocyanine green while maintaining physiological conditions.<h4>Significance</h4>Increased intestinal blood flow by these ingredients including piperine enhanced the absorption of theanine. Other mechanisms may also be considered as the mechanism by which theanine absorption is increased in addition to increased blood flow.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253066
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Yuki Sato
Kazuki Yamaguchi
Mikako Ogawa
Yoh Takekuma
Mitsuru Sugawara
spellingShingle Yuki Sato
Kazuki Yamaguchi
Mikako Ogawa
Yoh Takekuma
Mitsuru Sugawara
An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.
PLoS ONE
author_facet Yuki Sato
Kazuki Yamaguchi
Mikako Ogawa
Yoh Takekuma
Mitsuru Sugawara
author_sort Yuki Sato
title An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.
title_short An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.
title_full An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.
title_fullStr An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.
title_full_unstemmed An imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an L-theanine supplement.
title_sort imaging approach for determining the mechanism of enhancement of intestinal absorption of an l-theanine supplement.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS ONE
issn 1932-6203
publishDate 2021-01-01
description <h4>Background & objective</h4>Theanine (L-glutamylethylamide) contained in green tea is a functional food component that has been attracting attention due to its relaxation effect. It was shown that the ingredients added to the theanine formulations increased the absorption of theanine. If this mechanism can be elucidated, it would be possible to contribute to development of evidence-based formulations. In this study, we investigated the effect of ingredients in the formulations on the absorption of theanine in detail.<h4>Main methods</h4>After oral administration of a mixture of theanine and additional components to Wistar rats the plasma concentration was determined by an HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. In addition, a new system for evaluating intestinal blood flow was developed since the involvement of intestinal blood flow was considered as a factor that increased absorption of theanine.<h4>Key findings</h4>Plasma concentration of theanine increased significantly in the combined use group with eight ingredients containing piperine as compared with theanine only group. Piperine would increase theanine absorption by increased blood flow, not an inhibition of metabolism. We succeeded to develop a visual and quantitative system to evaluate the effect of these ingredients directly including piperine on the intestinal blood flow using indocyanine green while maintaining physiological conditions.<h4>Significance</h4>Increased intestinal blood flow by these ingredients including piperine enhanced the absorption of theanine. Other mechanisms may also be considered as the mechanism by which theanine absorption is increased in addition to increased blood flow.
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253066
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