Phytochemical uptake following human consumption of Montmorency tart cherry (L. Prunus cerasus) and influence of phenolic acids on vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro

Purpose: To investigate the phytochemical uptake following human consumption of Montmorency tart cherry (L. Prunus Cerasus) and influence of selected phenolic acids on vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. \ud Methods: In a randomized, double blinded, cross-over design, 12 healthy males consumed either 30 or 60 mL of Montmorency tart cherry concentrate. Following analysis of the juice composition, venous blood samples were taken before and 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 h post consumption of the beverage. In addition to examining some aspects of the concentrate contents, plasma concentrations of protocatechuic (PCA), vanillic (VA) and chlorogenic acid (CHL) were analysed by reversed–phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array for quantitation and mass spectrometry detection (LCMS) for qualitative purposes. Vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation were also assessed in vitro. \ud Results Both the 30 mL and 60 mL doses of Montmorency cherry concentrate contained high amounts of total phenolics (71.37 ± 0.11; 142.73 ± 0.22 mg˙L¯1) and total anthoycanins (62.47 ± 0.31; 31.24 ± 0.16 mg˙L¯1), as well as large quantities of CHL (0.205 ± 0.24; 0.410 ± 0.48 mg˙L¯1) and VA (0.253 ± 0.84; 0.506 ± 1.68 mg˙L¯1). HPLC/LCMS identified two dihydroxybenzoic acids (PCA and VA) in plasma following MC concentrate consumption. Both compounds were most abundant 1-2 h post initial ingestion with traces detectable at 8 h post ingestion. Cell migration was significantly influenced by the combination of PCA and VA, but not in isolation. There was no effect of the compounds on cell proliferation. \ud Conclusions: These data show new information that phenolic compounds thought to exert vasoactive properties are bioavailable in vivo following MC consumption, and subsequently can influence cell behaviour. These data may be useful for the design and interpretation of intervention studies investigating the health effects of Montmorency cherries.