Potato bound polyphenols: A novel delivery method for gut health?

The ability of polyphenols to bind with different types of potato cells may provide a new means of delivering them to the gut, say researchers. When potato cells were treated with solutions of phenolic compounds, binding occurred between them, revealed researchers from Queensland University and the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Valencia. A vast increase in the binding interaction between the polysaccharides in the potatoes and three different polyphenols was seen when using cooked potato cells. However, significant binding also occurred in raw cells. The findings, published in the Journal of Functional Foods, could enable a novel method of delivering a combination of polyphenols and dietary fibre to the large intestine. Both types of compounds have been shown to exert beneficial effects on the human microbiota. “The obtained results suggest, for the first time, the potential of potato cells as encapsulation vehicles for phenolic compounds,” concluded the team. Full article on Nutraingredients.com