Absorption of 1-Dicysteinethioacetal-5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Rats and Its Effect on Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota.

The absorption of a 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)-cysteine adduct, 1-dicysteinethioacetal-5-hydroxymethylfurfural (DCH), and its effect on antioxidant activity and gut microbiota were investigated. Results indicated that DCH is more easily absorbed in rats than HMF. Serum DCH concentrations were 15-38-fold of HMF concentrations from 30 to 180 min after intragastrical administration at the level of 100 mg/kg of body weight, and 2.7-4.5% of absorbed DCH was converted to HMF. The malondialdehyde content in the plasma, heart, liver, and kidneys significantly increased after drug (100 mg/kg of bw) administration for 1 week, suggesting that HMF and DCH were oxidative-stress-inducing agents, instead of antioxidant agents, in rats. HMF and DCH also modulated gut microbiota. HMF promoted the growth of Lactobacillus, Tyzzerella, Enterobacter, and Streptococcus. DCH increased the ratio of Firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes and promoted the growth of Akkermansia, Shigella, and Escherichia while inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus.

Relationship between HMF intake and SMF formation in vivo: An animal and human study.

SCOPE: 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a furanic compound produced in heat-processed foods by nonenzymatic browning reactions. HMF has been demonstrated to be hepato- and nephrotoxic in animals with a link to its metabolite 5-sulfooxymethylfurfural (SMF). To date little is known about either the formation of SMF from ingested HMF or the formation of DNA adducts in animals or human beings. METHODS AND RESULTS: To assess SMF in vivo formation, we first performed a study in mice treated with high/low doses of oral HMF. We found increased concentrations of SMF in plasma and DNA SMF-adducts in leukocytes, hepatic tissue, and kidneys by means of LC-MS/MS, but no spatial formation in such tissues was observed by MALDI-MS imaging technology due to low sensitivity. In a second experiment, we measured the exposure to HMF in a Spanish preadolescent population. We analyzed the concentration of HMF metabolites (plasma, urine) and measured, for the first time, the presence of SMF in plasma and DNA SMF-adducts in leukocytes. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence that oral HMF is readily transformed into SMF in vivo, giving rise to the formation of DNA adducts in a direct relation with HMF intake, both in animals and human beings.

Catalytic conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural using acidic ionic liquids and co-catalyst.

Efficient catalytic conversion of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), is achieved using acidic ionic liquids (ILs) as the catalysts and metal salts as co-catalysts in the solvent of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazo-lium acetate ([emim][Ac]). A series of acidic ILs has been synthesized and tested in conversion of MCC to HMF. The effect of reaction conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, catalyst dosage, metal salts, water dosage, Cu(2+) concentration and various acidic ILs are investigated in detail. The results show that CuCl(2) in 1-(4-sulfonic acid) butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate ([C(4)SO(3)Hmim][CH(3)SO(3)]), is found to be an efficient catalyst for catalytic conversion of MCC to HMF, and 69.7% yield of HMF is obtained. A mechanism to explain the high activity of CuCl(2) in [C(4)SO(3)Hmim][CH(3)SO(3)] is proposed. To the best of our knowledge, this report first proposes that the Cu(2+) and [C(4)SO(3)Hmim][CH(3)SO(3)] show better catalytic performance in catalytic conversion of MCC to HMF.

Kinetic mechanism of an aldehyde reductase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that relieves toxicity of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

An effective means of relieving the toxicity of furan aldehydes, furfural (FFA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), on fermenting organisms is essential for achieving efficient fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol and other products. Ari1p, an aldehyde reductase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been shown to mitigate the toxicity of FFA and HMF by catalyzing the NADPH-dependent conversion to corresponding alcohols, furfuryl alcohol (FFOH) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfuryl alcohol (HMFOH). At pH 7.0 and 25°C, purified Ari1p catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of substrates with the following values (k(cat) (s(-1)), k(cat)/K(m) (s(-1)mM(-1)), K(m) (mM)): FFA (23.3, 1.82, 12.8), HMF (4.08, 0.173, 23.6), and dl-glyceraldehyde (2.40, 0.0650, 37.0). When acting on HMF and dl-glyceraldehyde, the enzyme operates through an equilibrium ordered kinetic mechanism. In the physiological direction of the reaction, NADPH binds first and NADP(+) dissociates from the enzyme last, demonstrated by k(cat) of HMF and dl-glyceraldehyde that are independent of [NADPH] and (K(ia)(NADPH)/k(cat)) that extrapolate to zero at saturating HMF or dl-glyceraldehyde concentration. Microscopic kinetic parameters were determined for the HMF reaction (HMF+NADPH↔HMFOH+NADP(+)), by applying steady-state, presteady-state, kinetic isotope effects, and dynamic modeling methods. Release of products, HMFOH and NADP(+), is 84% rate limiting to k(cat) in the forward direction. Equilibrium constants, [NADP(+)][FFOH]/[NADPH][FFA][H(+)]=5600×10(7)M(-1) and [NADP(+)][HMFOH]/[NADPH][HMF][H(+)]=4200×10(7)M(-1), favor the physiological direction mirrored by the slowness of hydride transfer in the non-physiological direction, NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of alcohols (k(cat) (s(-1)), k(cat)/K(m) (s(-1)mM(-1)), K(m) (mM)): FFOH (0.221, 0.00158, 140) and HMFOH (0.0105, 0.000104, 101).

Conversion of the common food constituent 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into a mutagenic and carcinogenic sulfuric acid ester in the mouse in vivo.

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), formed by acid-catalyzed dehydration and in the Maillard reaction from reducing sugars, is found at high levels in numerous foods. It was shown to initiate colon aberrant crypt foci in rats and skin papillomas and hepatocellular adenomas in mice. HMF is inactive in in vitro genotoxicity tests using standard activating systems but is activated to a mutagen by sulfotransferases. The product, 5-sulfoxymethylfurfural (SMF), is a stronger carcinogen than HMF. SMF has not been detected in the biotransfomation experiments conducted on HMF in humans and animals in vivo up to date. Here, we report pharmacokinetic properties of HMF and SMF in FVB/N mice. Sensitive assays for the quantification of HMF and SMF by LC-MS/MS multiple reaction monitoring were devised. SMF, intravenously injected (4.4 micromol/kg body mass), showed first-order elimination kinetics in blood plasma (t(1/2) = 7.9 min). HMF, injected intravenously (793 micromol/kg body mass), demonstrated biphasic kinetics in plasma (t(1/2) = 1.7 and 28 min for the initial and terminal elimination phases, respectively); the volume of distribution of the central compartment corresponded approximately to the total body water. The maximum SMF plasma level was observed at the first sampling time, 2.5 min after HMF administration. On the basis of these kinetic data, it was estimated that between 452 and 551 ppm of the initial HMF dose was converted to SMF and reached the circulation. It is likely that additional SMF reacted with cellular structures at the site of generation and thus is ignored in this balance. Our work supports the hypothesis that HMF-related carcinogenicity may be mediated by its reactive metabolite SMF.

In situ detoxification and continuous cultivation of dilute-acid hydrolyzate to ethanol by encapsulated S. cerevisiae.

Dilute-acid lignocellulosic hydrolyzate was successfully fermented to ethanol by encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae at dilution rates up to 0.5h(-1). The hydrolyzate was so toxic that freely suspended yeast cells could ferment it continuously just up to dilution rate 0.1h(-1), where the cells lost 75% of their viability measured by colony forming unit (CFU). However, encapsulation increased their capacity for in situ detoxification of the hydrolyzate and protected the cells against the inhibitors present in the hydrolyzate. While the cells were encapsulated, they could successfully ferment the hydrolyzate at tested dilution rates 0.1-0.5h(-1), and keep more than 75% cell viability in the worst conditions. They produced ethanol with yield 0.44+/-0.01 g/g and specific productivity 0.14-0.17 g/(gh) at all dilution rates. Glycerol was the main by-product of the cultivations, which yielded 0.039-0.052 g/g. HMF present in the hydrolyzate was converted 48-71% by the encapsulated yeast, while furfural was totally converted at dilution rates 0.1 and 0.2h(-1) and partly at the higher rates. Continuous cultivation of encapsulated yeast was also investigated on glucose in synthetic medium up to dilution rate 1.0 h(-1). At this highest rate, ethanol and glycerol were also the major products with yields 0.43 and 0.076 g/g, respectively. The experiments lasted for 18-21 days, and no damage in the capsules was detected.

Identification and urinary excretion of metabolites of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural in human subjects following consumption of dried plums or dried plum juice.

5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (I) is a major breakdown product occurring in solutions with high concentrations of fructose and glucose and is present in many fruit juices, in heat-sterilized parenteral solutions, and in baby cereals. The objective of this study was to characterize and identify 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural metabolites in human subjects following the consumption of dried plum juice and/or dried plums. Subjects were fasted overnight and blood and urine samples were obtained during the day following consumption. Subjects fed the dried plum juice and dried plums consumed 3944 micromol (497 mg) and 531 micromol (67 mg) of I, respectively. Four presumed metabolites of I were detected in the urine of subjects that consumed dried plum juice. They were tentatively identified using HPLC-MS/MS as (1) N-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoyl)glycine (III), (2) 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (II), (3) (5-carboxylic acid-2-furoyl)glycine (IV), and (4) (5-carboxylic acid-2-furoyl)aminomethane (V). Total urinary excretion during the 6 h following the consumption of dried plum juice was 168, 1465, 137, and 75 micromoles on the basis of II as a standard for II, III, IV, and V, respectively. The estimated total recovery of I metabolites was 46.2% and 14.2% of the I dose during the first 6 h after consumption of dried plum juice and dried plums, respectively. I seems to be metabolized rapidly to glycine conjugates and other metabolites and excreted in the urine.

Enhanced biotransformation of furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural by newly developed ethanologenic yeast strains.

Furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are representative inhibitors among many inhibitive compounds derived from biomass degradation and saccharification for bioethanol fermentation. Most yeasts, including industrial strains, are susceptible to these inhibitory compounds, especially when multiple inhibitors are present. Additional detoxification steps add cost and complexity to the process and generate additional waste products. To promote efficient bioethanol production, we studied the mechanisms of stress tolerance, particularly to fermentation inhibitors such as furfural and HMF. We recently reported a metabolite of 2,5-bis-hydroxymethylfuran as a conversion product of HMF and characterized a dose-dependent response of ethanologenic yeasts to inhibitors. In this study, we present newly adapted strains that demonstrated higher levels of tolerance to furfural and HMF. Saccharomyces cerevisiae 307-12H60 and 307-12H120 and Pichia stipitis 307 10H60 showed enhanced biotransformation ability to reduce HMF to 2,5-bis-hydroxymethylfuran at 30 and 60 mM, and S. cerevisiae 307-12-F40 converted furfural into furfuryl alcohol at significantly higher rates compared to the parental strains. Strains of S. cerevisiae converted 100% of HMF at 60 mM and S. cerevisiae 307-12-F40 converted 100% of furfural into furfuryl alcohol at 30 mM. The results of this study suggest a possible in situ detoxification of the inhibitors by using more inhibitor-tolerant yeast strains for bioethanol fermentation. The development of such tolerant strains provided a basis and useful materials for further studies on the mechanisms of stress tolerance.

Effects of glucose, fructose and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde on the presystemic metabolism and absorption of glycyrrhizin in rabbits.

Our previous study reported that co-administration of honey significantly increased the serum levels of glycyrrhetic acid (GA) after oral administration of glycyrrhizin (GZ) in rabbits. The components of honey are sucrose, glucose, fructose and 5-hydroxymethyl-furaldehyde (HMF). To clarify the causative component(s) in honey that altered the metabolic pharmacokinetics of GZ, rabbits were given GZ (150 mg kg(-1)) with and without glucose (5 g/rabbit), fructose (5 g/rabbit) and HMF (1 mg kg(-1)), respectively, in crossover designs. An HPLC method was used to determine concentrations of GZ and GA in serum as well as GA and 3-dehydroglycyrrhetic acid (3-dehydroGA) in faeces suspension. A noncompartment model was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters and analysis of variance was used for statistical comparison. Our results indicated that the area under curve (AUC) of GA was significantly increased by 29% when HMF was coadministered, whereas the pharmacokinetics of GZ and GA were not significantly altered by coadministration of glucose or fructose. An in-vitro study, using faeces to incubate GZ and GA individually, indicated that HMF significantly inhibited the oxidation of GA to 3-dehydroGA and this may explain the enhanced GA absorption in-vivo. It was concluded that HMF is the causative component in honey that affects the presystemic metabolism and pharmacokinetics of GZ in-vivo.

An improved HPLC analysis of the metabolite furoic acid in the urine of workers occupationally exposed to furfural.

An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the analysis of the metabolite furoic acid in the urine of workers occupationally exposed to furfural is described. The procedure involved an alkaline hydrolysis step followed by solvent extraction using ethyl acetate. HPLC analysis used an acidic acetonitrile/water mobile phase with a C18 column and ultraviolet detection. The overall relative recovery of furoic acid in urine was found to be 98.8% with a relative standard deviation of 9.7%. The limit of quantitation was determined to be 0.01 mmol/L.

Reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol by ethanologenic strains of bacteria and its effect on ethanol production from xylose.

The ethanologenic bacteria Escherichia coli strains KO11 and LYO1, and Klebsiella oxytoca strain P2, were investigated for their ability to metabolize furfural. Using high performance liquid chromatography and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, furfural was found to be completely biotransformed into furfuryl alcohol by each of the three strains with tryptone and yeast extract as sole carbon sources. This reduction appears to be constitutive with NAD(P)H acting as electron donor. Glucose was shown to be an effective source of reducing power. Succinate inhibited furfural reduction, indicating that flavins are unlikely participants in this process. Furfural at concentrations >10 mM decreased the rate of ethanol formation but did not affect the final yield. Insight into the biochemical nature of this furfural reduction process may help efforts to mitigate furfural toxicity during ethanol production by ethanologenic bacteria.

Distribution and metabolism of (5-hydroxymethyl)furfural in male F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice after oral administration.

(5-Hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), a heat-induced decomposition product of hexoses, is present in food and drink. Recent reports have shown HMF to be an in vitro mutagen after sulfate conjugation and to be a promoter as well as a weak initiator of colonic aberrant foci in rats. In order to investigate the metabolic activation further and to provide information for HMF toxicology studies, the disposition of [14C]-HMF has been investigated in male F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice following po administration of either 5, 10, 100, or 500 mg/kg. Tissue distribution results indicated that absorption of HMF was rapid in male rats and mice and that tissue concentrations in male mice at the earliest time point are not linearly proportional to dose. Excretion was primarily via the urine in both, with 60-80% of the administered dose excreted by this route in 48 h. Tissue/blood ratios of HMF-derived radioactivity were greater than 1 for liver and kidney. Three metabolites were identified and quantitated in urine. Formation of one of the metabolites, N-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoyl)glycine, was inversely proportional to dose in rats but not mice. None of the metabolites were sulfate conjugates nor likely to be formed from sulfate conjugates. There were relatively low levels of nonextractable radioactivity in liver, kidney, and intestines, indicating that some reactive intermediate(s) may be formed.

The FEMA GRAS assessment of furfural used as a flavour ingredient. Flavor and Extract Manufacturers' Association.

The Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers' Association (FEMA) has assessed the safety of furfural for its continued use as a flavour ingredient. The safety assessment takes into account the current scientific information on exposure, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, carcinogenicity and genotoxicity. Furfural was reaffirmed as GRAS (GRASr) as a flavour ingredient under conditions of intended use based on: (1) its mode of metabolic detoxication in humans; (2) its low level of flavour use compared with higher intake levels as a naturally occurring component of food; (3) the safety factor calculated from results of subchronic and chronic studies, (4) the lack of reactivity with DNA; and (5) the conclusion that the only statistically significant finding in the 2-year NTP bioassays, an increased incidence of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in the high-dose group of male mice, was secondary to pronounced hepatotoxicity. Taken together, these data do not indicate any risk to human health under conditions of use as a flavour ingredient. This evidence of safety is supported by the occurrence of furfural as a natural component of traditional foods, at concentrations in the diet resulting in a 'natural intake' that is at least 100 times higher than the intake of furfural from use as a flavour ingredient.

Metabolism and excretion of [14C]furfural in the rat and mouse.

The fate of furfural (2-furancarboxaldehyde) was investigated in male and female Fischer 344 (F344) rats given single oral doses of 1, 10 and 60 mg/kg and male and female CD1 mice given 1, 20 and 200 mg/kg [carbonyl-14C]furfural. There was a very high recovery (more than 90% of dose) of radioactivity in all dose groups in 72 hr. The major route of elimination was by the urine, with much smaller amounts present in the faeces and exhaled as 14CO2. The residue in the carcass after 72 hr was less than 1% of the administered dose. Furoylglycine and furanacryloylglycine were identified as the major urinary metabolites by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, radio-HPLC, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, by comparison with synthetic reference compounds. There were only subtle differences in the metabolic profile as a function of dose size, sex and species. An additional minor polar metabolite was excreted by male rats and mice, and the parent acids of the glycine conjugates were excreted at the higher doses. The results are discussed in terms of the participation of xenobiotics in the chain elongation reactions of fatty acid biosynthesis.

Comparative metabolism and disposition of furfural and furfuryl alcohol in rats.

The comparative metabolism and disposition of furfural (FAL) and furfuryl alcohol (FOL) were investigated following oral administration of approximately 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 of the LD50, corresponding to approximately 0.127, 1.15, and 12.5 mg/kg for FAL and 0.275, 2.75, and 27.5 mg/kg for FOL. At all doses studied, at least 86-89% of the dose of FAL or FOL was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. FAL and FOL were extensively metabolized prior to excretion. The major route of excretion was in urine, where 83-88% of the dose was excreted, whereas 2-4% was excreted in the feces. Approximately 7% of the dose from rats treated with FAL at 12.5 mg/kg was exhaled as 14CO2. At 72 hr following administration, the pattern of tissue distribution of radioactivity was similar for both FAL and FOL. Liver and kidney contained the highest, and brain the lowest concentrations of radioactivity. Generally, the concentrations of radioactivity in tissues were proportional to the dose. Almost all of the urinary radioactivity was tentatively identified. No FAL or FOL was detected in urine. Furoylglycine was the major urinary metabolite (73-80% of dose), and furoic acid (1-6%) and furanacrylic acid (3-8%) were the minor metabolites following treatment with either FAL or FOL. Therefore, the initial step in the metabolism of FAL and FOL involves the oxidation to furoic acid, which is excreted unchanged and decarboxylated to form 14CO2, conjugated with glycine, or condensed with acetic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)