1Department of Environmental Oncology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
Journal of Food and Nutrition Research.
2021,
Vol. 9 No. 2, 96-101
DOI: 10.12691/jfnr-9-2-6
Copyright © 2021 Science and Education PublishingCite this paper: Hiroshi Kasai, Yuya Kawasaki, Kazuaki Kawai. 1,4-Dihydroxy-2-naphthoic Acid Sulfate: A Promising Constipation Preventive Agent.
Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2021; 9(2):96-101. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-9-2-6.
Correspondence to: Hiroshi Kasai, Department of Environmental Oncology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan. Email:
h-kasai@med.uoeh-u.ac.jpAbstract
1,4-Dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA) is a metabolic by-product of fermentation by Propionibacterium and is thought to have a beneficial effect as a prebiotic. As it is unstable in air, we have developed a new stable DHNA derivative, DHNA-4-sulfate (DHNAS), which should be converted to DHNA in vivo. After DHNAS was administered to mice, fecal size enlargement and softening were observed. As a metabolite, DHNA-4-β-glucuronide (DHNAG) was detected in the urine, which suggested the sequential conversion, DHNASàDHNAàDHNAG, in vivo. These 4-OH-blocked DHNA derivatives, DHNAS and DHNAG, were stable at pH 3 and pH 7.4, and in water, while DHNA decomposed rapidly within 20 hrs. DHNAS may be a useful food additive to improve human intestinal health, and a promising constipation preventive agent.
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