Neuroactive compounds in tomatoes: metabolic fate during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation

Neuroprotective compounds from tomatoes may remain stable or increase during digestion and colonic fermentation.

• Tomatoes contain neuroactive compounds that could be significant for neurodegenerative disease treatment.
• Several neuroprotective compounds, such as tomatine and serotonin, showed stability or increased presence after 24 hours.
• Other compounds, including caffeic acid and rutin, degraded rapidly within 3 hours.
• Neuro-disrupting compounds like bisphenol S and difenoconazole persisted largely unchanged after 24 hours.
• Digested tomato enhanced the production of acetic and propionic acids, though this effect was reduced by the presence of neuro-disruptors.
• The study highlights the colonic bioaccessibility of neuroactive compounds and their possible effects on the gut-brain connection.

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