Absorption and metabolism of genistin in the isolated rat small intestine

Uptake and intestinal metabolism of physiologically active genistin were studied in an ex vivo intestinal perfusion model; luminally applied concentrations were 5.9, 12.0, and 23.8 mu mol/l. The intestinal absorption of genistin was 14.9% (+/- 2.3, n = 9), irrespective of the amounts applied. The majority of the absorbed genistin appeared as genistein glucuronide (11.6%), also recovered as the main metabolite on the luminal side (19.5%). Minor amounts of genistin (1.3%) and genistein (1.9%) were found on the vascular side, whereas 15.4% of applied genistin was luminally cleaved to yield genistein, Sulfate derivatives of genistein or genistin were not observed. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies, Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.