Just Add Sugar: The Surprising Ingredient To Supercharge a Common Antioxidant

Researchers have found a way to enhance the health benefits of polyphenolic compounds by making them water-soluble through glycosylation, paving the way for potentially life-saving drugs.

New research indicates that combining polyphenolic compounds, which are commonly found in fruits and vegetables, with sugar molecules can lead to the development of potentially life-saving medications.

Polyphenols are a class of compounds found in many plant-based foods. Polyphenols help prevent cellular damage in the body and can help prevent diseases such as cancer or heart disease. However, many of them do not dissolve in water, making it difficult to fully take advantage of their health benefits.

Biological Engineering Professor Jixun Zhan and his graduate students Jie Ren and Caleb Barton recently published a comprehensive review article on engineered production of polyphenolic O-glycosides, which allow those polyphenolic compounds to remain stable and soluble through microbial fermentation. The study was recently published in the journal Biotechnology Advances.

“Polyphenols have many different effects on the body and can be used to develop potential medicines and health supplements,” Zhan said. “They also have natural preservative properties and can protect our body tissues from damage caused by harmful substances. Unfortunately, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability have limited their health benefits, but by attaching sugar molecules, we can make them more soluble in water and stable.”

Professor Jixun Zhan. Credit: Matt Jensen/Utah State University

This process is called glycosylation. Researchers are using new methods, such as bacterial fermentation, to modify the sugar structures and glycosylation patterns of polyphenols. By studying the enzymes and processes involved in sugar biosynthesis, it is now possible to develop more effective glyco-drugs. Zhan’s article summarizes the different phenolic glycosides found in nature and the methods used to produce them.

“By exploring the mechanisms behind the production of these compounds in bacteria and providing methods for manipulating sugar biosynthesis, we can create useful medical agents and improve lives,” Zhan said.

Various methods have been developed to produce polyphenolic glycosides in the lab, but most are still at a small scale. Future research will focus on improving the efficiency of production processes, including optimizing fermentation conditions and finding better ways to transport the compounds.

“Polyphenolic glycosides are valuable compounds with diverse health benefits. Using microbes to produce these compounds in a controlled and cost-effective manner shows promise for large-scale production,” Zhan said.

Reference: “Engineered production of bioactive polyphenolic O-glycosides” by Jie Ren, Caleb Don Barton and Jixun Zhan, 5 April 2023, Biotechnology Advances.
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108146