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

Stereoisomers (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin were converted by human faecal microbiota to different ring-fission metabolites, depending on the inocula originated from two different groups of donors. Whereas GC/MS proved to be a tool for the study of expected hydroxyphenylpropionic acids, GC×GC-TOF-based metabolomics revealed new metabolites, hydroxyphenylvaleric acids. Dehydroxylation pattern was not changed by different inocula.