Review Article

Biological Significance of Urolithins, the Gut Microbial Ellagic Acid-Derived Metabolites: The Evidence So Far

Table 1

Production of urolithins as ellagitannin metabolites in different animals and humans.

Animal productionEllagitannin sourceMetabolitesReferences

Rat (Rattus norvegicus)Pomegranate huskUro A, Uro B, Uro C[6, 20]
Rat (Rattus norvegicus)Ellagic acidUro A[27]
Rat (Rattus norvegicus)Oak-flavored milkUro A, Uro B, Uro C[28]
Rat (Rattus norvegicus)Pomegranate extractUro A[29]
Rat (Rattus norvegicus)Geraniin (from Geranium thunbergii)Uro A, Uro M-6, Uro M-7, Uro M5[30]
Mouse (Mus musculus)Pomegranate extractUro A[24]
Mouse (Mus musculus)Pomegranate huskUro A[21]
Beaver (Castor canadensis)WoodUro A; Uro B[15]
[21]
Complex-toothed squirrel (Trogopterus xanthipes)UnknownUro A[16, 21]
Sheep (Ovis aries)Trifolium subterraneum Uro A, Uro B[18]
Sheep (Ovis aries)QuebrachoUro A *
Cattle (Bos primigenius)Young oak leavesUro A, IsoUro A, Uro B[31]
Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)AcornsUro A, Uro C, Uro D, Uro B[23]
Humans (Homo sapiens)Pomegranate juiceUro A, Uro C, Isouro A, Uro B[7, 9, 25, 32]
Humans (Homo sapiens)Pomegranate extractUro A, UroB, Uro C[10]
Humans (Homo sapiens)WalnutsUro A, Uro B, Uro C[8]
[25]
Humans (Homo sapiens)StrawberryUro A, Isouro A, Uro B, Uro C[8, 33]
Humans (Homo sapiens)RaspberryUro A, IsoUro A, Uro B[8, 34]
Humans (Homo sapiens)BlackberryUro A, Uro C *
Humans (Homo sapiens)CloudberryUro A *
Humans (Homo sapiens)Oak-aged red wineUro A[8]
Humans (Homo sapiens)TeaUro A[35]
Humans (Homo sapiens)NutsUro A, Isouro A, Uro B[36]

Uro A (urolithin A); Uro B (urolithin B); Uro C (urolithin C); Uro D (urolithin D); Isouro A (isourolithin A); Uro M-5 (urolithin M-5); Uro M-6 (urolithin M-6); and Uro M-7 (urolithin M-7). Tomás-Barberán et al., unpublished results.