Urolithins and Their Precursors Ellagic Acid and Ellagitannins: Natural Sources, Extraction and Methods for Their Determination

Abstract

In the present review, we discuss the occurrence of ellagitannins (ETs) and ellagic acid (EA) and methods for their isolation from plant materials. We summarize analytical methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet (HPLC–UV) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), for the determination of ETs, EA and their bioactive metabolites urolithins (Uros) in samples of plant and food origin, as well as in biological samples, such as plasma, urine and feces. In addition, the current interest in the bioactivities of Uros is discussed in brief.

Keywords

• ellagic acid
• ellagitannins
• HPLC-UV
• LC-MS
• urolithins