Absorption and Metabolism of Urolithin A and Ellagic Acid in Mice and Their Cytotoxicity in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenol compound found in pomegranates, walnuts, and many berries. It is not easily absorbed, but it could be metabolized to urolithins by the gut microbiota. Urolithin A, one of the ellagic acid metabolites, has been proved to prolong the lifespan of C. elegans and increases muscle function of mice. The purpose of this current study was to analyze the absorption and metabolites of urolithin A and ellagic acid in mice and the anticancer effects of urolithin A, urolithin B, and ellagic acid in colorectal cancer cells. METHODS: Urolithin A and urolithin B were synthesized and analyzed by HPLC and NMR. A pharmacokinetic study of urolithin A was performed in mice by analyzing urolithin A and its metabolites in urines. Absorption and biotransformation of ellagic acid were also studied in mice by analyzing the plasma, liver, and feces. The cytotoxicity of urolithin A, urolithin B, and ellagic acid was assayed in SW480, SW620, HCT 116, and HT-29 cells. RESULTS: Urolithin A and urolithin B were synthesized and purified to reach 98.1% and 99% purity, respectively, and the structures were identified by NMR. In urolithin A intake analysis, urolithin A was only detectable at 3 h, not at 6–24 h; it suggested that urolithin A was rapidly metabolized to some unknown metabolites. Using UPLC-MS/MS analysis, the metabolites might be urolithin A 3-O-glucuronide, urolithin A 3-sulfate, and urolithin A-sulfate glucuronide. After feeding mice with ellagic acid for consecutive 14 days, ellagic acid contents could be detected in the fecal samples, but not in plasma and liver, and urolithin A was not detected in all samples. It suggests that ellagic acid is not easily absorbed and that the biotransformation of ellagic acid to urolithin A by intestinal flora might be very low. From the cytotoxicity assay, it was found that there was anticancer effect in urolithin A and urolithin B but not in ellagic acid. In contrast, ellagic acid promoted the proliferation of SW480 and SW620 cells.