Name: Anna Engemann
Diploma / M.Sc degree: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
(November 2008)

PhD Project: Intestinal Metabolism of Food Constituents in the Pig Cecum Model


Homepage: http://www.uni-muenster.de/Chemie.lc/organisation/mitarbeiter.html

Abstract of Research Project

Many food constituents are said to have positive health effects, although it is often not known if these substances are taken up during the gastrointestinal passage or if they are metabolized to other bioactive compounds. Therefore, possible metabolites or the substance itself might cause the health impact. Using the Pig Cecum Model developed in our group, the intestinal metabolism of substances in the large bowel - where the digestion is mainly caused by the microbiota - is studied. With this model it is possible to simulate a very close in vivo situation with naturally occurring microorganism. Additionally, formed metabolites can be identified and quantified.

One example for the above mentioned compounds are the procyanidins, which are food constituents occuring in many fruits and berries. Several studies confirm a protection against cardiovascular diseases and certain forms of cancer by dietary procyanidin intake without considering the influence of the metabolism in the gut. Therefore, the intestinal metabolism of these substances is studied in the Pig Cecum Model.

Additionally, not only substances with possible positive health effects could be created by microorganisms. The Pig Cecum Model will also be used to conclude whether N-nitroso compounds can be formed in the bowel by the naturally occurring microorganisms. N-nitroso compounds are carcinogenic and are supposed to be a possible reason for the linkage of the intake of cured meat and an increased risk of large bowel cancer.


Publications

A. Engemann, C. Focke, H.-U. Humpf
Intestinal formation of N-nitroso compounds in the pig cecum model
J Agric Food Chem 61(4) (2013), 998-1005.

Q. Wu, A. Engemann, B. Cramer, T. Welsch, Z. Yuan, H.-U. Humpf
Intestinal metabolism of T-2 toxin in the pig cecum model
Mycotoxin Res 28 (2012), 191–198.

A. Engemann, F. Hübner, S. Rzeppa, H.-U. Humpf
Intestinal Metabolism of Two A-type Procyanidins Using the Pig Cecum Model: Detailed Structure Elucidation of Unknown Catabolites with Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (FTMS)
J Agric Food Chem 60(3) (2012), 749-57.


Anna Engemann
eMail: Anna Engemann