Microbiota as a Metabolic Organ Processing Dietary Polyphenols

Dietary polyphenols are one of the largest and most studied groups of plant secondary metabolites in the last decades for their wide spectrum of beneficial effects on the human health. Polyphenols have antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, anticancer effects and health-promoting properties to counteract non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and inflammatory bowel diseases. In order to consider the important properties of polyphenols for human wellbeing, it is necessary to focus on several issues, including their bioaccessibility in food matrices, their bioavailability and bioefficacy. Knowledge of their bio-transformation by the gut microbiota and how polyphenols can influence the selective growth of microbial communities in healthy or pathological conditions is needed. Dietary administration of polyphenol-enriched foods could contribute to maintaining an intestinal “healthy” profile and help prevent gut chronic diseases.