Short communicationsAbsorption of dimers, trimers and tetramers of procyanidins present in apple skin by IEC-18 cell monolayers

- IEC-18 cells can absorb dimers, trimers and tetramers of procyanidins of apple skin.
- Procyanidins have different absorption pattern as part of a mixture and in pure form.
- The percentages of absorption were significantly larger for pure procyanidins.

The absorption of pure procyanidins (PP) and procyanidins from a procyanidin-rich fraction of apple skin (PRFAS) was determined, employing the IEC-18 cellular line as a model of paracellular transport. The percentages of absorption for each compound from the PRFAS were: (−)-epicatechin (0.17%), procyanidin B2 (0.13%), procyanidin C1 (0.1%), tetramer 3 (0.05%), tetramer 2 (0.04%), (+)-catechin (0.009%), procyanidin B1 (0.007%) and tetramer 1 (0.002%). The percentages of absorption of PP were significantly larger: 5.52, 4.25 and 1.10% for procyanidins B2, B1 and C1, respectively. Together, the concentration, degree of polymerization and structure determine the cellular absorption of each procyanidin.