Interactions between (+)-catechin and quercetin during their oxidation by nitrite under the conditions simulating the stomach.

When foods that contain catechins and quercetin glycosides are ingested, quercetin glycosides are hydrolyzed to quercetin during mastication by hydrolytic enzymes derived from oral bacteria and the generated quercetin aglycone is mixed with catechins in saliva. The present study deals with the interactions between (+)-catechin and quercetin during their reactions with nitrous acid under the conditions simulating the gastric lumen. Nitrous acid reacted with (+)-catechin producing 6,8-dinitrosocatechin, and quercetin partially suppressed the dinitrosocatechin formation. Nitric oxide, which was produced by not only (+)-catechin/nitrous acid but also quercetin/nitrous acid systems, was used to produce 6,8-dinitrosocatechin. Furthermore, 6,8-dinitrosocatechin was oxidized by nitrous acid to the quinone form. The quinone formation was significantly suppressed by quercetin. Quercetin-dependent suppression of the above reactions accompanied the oxidation of quercetin, which was observed with the formation of 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranone. Taking the above results into account, we proposed a possible mechanism of 6,8-dinitrosocatechin formation and discuss the importance of quercetin to prevent the quinone formation from 6,8-dinitrosocatechin in the gastric lumen, taking the interactions between quercetin and catechins into account.