Dynamic Gastrointestinal Simulation Reveals that Short-Term Mango Purée Feeding Modulates (Poly)phenol Metabolism, Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Activity.

This study evaluated the impact of gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation on mango (poly)phenols and their influence on gut microbiota using the dynamic gastrointestinal simulator simgi®. The system was fed with 10 g/day of mango purée for five days, providing 89.5 μmol of phenolic compounds, and inoculated with fecal microbiota from three healthy donors. Samples from the stomach, small intestine, and colon (ascending, transverse and descending) were analysed by UHPLC-HRMS to identify parent compounds and metabolites. Microbial communities were profiled by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while metabolic activity was assessed through short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonium (NH₄+) determination. Mango (poly)phenols underwent extensive microbial metabolism, primarily in the colon, generating benzoic, phenylpropanoic, cinnamic acids and hydroxybenzenes, along with a reduction in galloyl derivatives. A progressive and significant increase in the total (poly)phenol content was observed during the feeding period, specifically in the colonic fermentation phase, rising from 66 μmol at the stabilization stage to 174 μmol after 96 h of feeding. Short-term mango feeding modulated microbiota composition, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial taxa such as Bifidobacterium spp., across colonic compartments. Regarding metabolic activity, a marked increase in butyric acid production was observed in the ascending colon, rising from 6 mM to 47 mM. In parallel, a significant reduction in ammonium concentration was detected across all colonic compartments during the feeding period, decreasing from 275 to 51 mg/L by the end of the experiment. Overall, these findings confirm that mango (poly)phenols promoted bioactive metabolites and supported a healthier gut environment.