Flavonifractor

Flavonifractor is a genus of anaerobic bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. Flavonifractor has the unique ability to metabolise flavonoids, a type of natural plant compounds known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to the balance of the complex microbial community that influences host physiology, metabolism, and immune function. Pseudoflavonifractor increases the bioavailability of flavonoids and transforms these compounds, playing a role in unlocking their therapeutic potential for the host. Furthermore, some species within this genus are known to produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which are crucial for maintaining gut integrity and overall health.¹Sakamoto M, Tanaka Y, Benno Y, Ohkuma M. Butyricimonas faecihominis sp. nov. and Butyricimonas paravirosa sp. nov., isolated from human faeces, and emended description of the genus Butyricimonas. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2014 Sep;64(Pt 9):2992-2997. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.065318-0.

Roles of Flavonifractor species in human health

1. Metabolism of flavonoids: Flavonifractor species can metabolise certain flavonoids, which are compounds found in plants that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.²Ivey KL, Chan AT, Izard J, Cassidy A, Rogers GB, Rimm EB. Role of Dietary Flavonoid Compounds in Driving Patterns of Microbial Community Assembly. mBio. 2019;10(5):e01205-19. Published 2019 Sep 24. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01205-19.³Yang G, Hong S, Yang P, et al. Discovery of an ene-reductase for initiating flavone and flavonol catabolism in gut bacteria. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):790. Published 2021 Feb 4. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-20974-2.⁴Thomsen M, Tuukkanen A, Dickerhoff J, et al. Structure and catalytic mechanism of the evolutionarily unique bacterial chalcone isomerase. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2015;71(Pt 4):907-917. doi: 10.1107/S1399004715001935.
2. Butyrate production: Flavonifractor species contribute to the production of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining and contributing to health both within and beyond the gut.⁵Hodgkinson K, El Abbar F, Dobranowski P, Manoogian J, Butcher J, Figeys D, Mack D, Stintzi A. Butyrate’s role in human health and the current progress towards its clinical application to treat gastrointestinal disease. Clin Nutr. 2023 Feb;42(2):61-75. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.10.024.⁶Cheng X, Zhou T, He Y, Xie Y, Xu Y, Huang W. The role and mechanism of butyrate in the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Front Microbiol. 2022 Aug 9;13:961536. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.961536.⁷Bourassa MW, Alim I, Bultman SJ, Ratan RR. Butyrate, neuroepigenetics and the gut microbiome: Can a high fiber diet improve brain health? Neurosci Lett. 2016 Jun 20;625:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.02.009.⁸Siddiqui MT, Cresci GAM. The Immunomodulatory Functions of Butyrate. J Inflamm Res. 2021 Nov 18;14:6025-6041. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S300989. People living with certain conditions, e.g. Parkinson’s⁹Nuzum ND, Szymlek-Gay EA, Loke S, Dawson SL, Teo WP, Hendy AM, Loughman A, Macpherson H. Differences in the gut microbiome across typical ageing and in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropharmacology. 2023 Sep 1;235:109566. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109566.
3. Cardiovascular support: Although this is an emerging area still under active research, some evidence suggests that a species of Flavonifractor, namely Flavonifractor plautii protects against elevated arterial stiffness.¹⁰Luo S, Zhao Y, Zhu S, Liu L, Cheng K, Ye B, Han Y, Fan J, Xia M. Flavonifractor plautiiProtects Against Elevated Arterial Stiffness. Circ Res. 2023 Jan 20;132(2):167-181. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.122.321975.

Best sources of Flavonifractor

Flavonifractor species naturally inhabit the human gut and can be promoted by a fibre-rich diet. No food sources of Flavonifractor are available at present. Specialised Flavonifractor probiotic supplements based on Flavonifractor plautii are currently being investigated in pre-clinical studies.¹¹Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral Administration of Flavonifractor plautii, a Bacteria Increased With Green Tea Consumption, Promotes Recovery From Acute Colitis in Mice via Suppression of IL-17. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 4;7:610946. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.610946.¹²Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral administration of Flavonifractor plautii attenuates inflammatory responses in obese adipose tissue. Mol Biol Rep. 2020 Sep;47(9):6717-6725. doi: 10.1007/s11033-020-05727-6.

What foods can Flavonifractor feed on?

Flavonifractor species appear to thrive on a fibre-rich, polyphenol-rich diet that features onions, grapes, berries, cherries, broccoli, and citrus fruits as sources of quercetin, as well as green tea, coffee, cacao, chocolate and wine as sources of flavonoids.¹³Rodriguez-Castaño GP, Rey FE, Caro-Quintero A, Acosta-González A. Gut-derived Flavonifractor species variants are differentially enriched during in vitro incubation with quercetin. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 2;15(12):e0227724. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227724.¹⁴Pérez-Burillo S, Navajas-Porras B, López-Maldonado A, Hinojosa-Nogueira D, Pastoriza S, Rufián-Henares JÁ. Green Tea and Its Relation to Human Gut Microbiome. Molecules. 2021 Jun 26;26(13):3907. doi: 10.3390/molecules26133907.¹⁵Corrêa TAF, Rogero MM, Hassimotto NMA, Lajolo FM. The Two-Way Polyphenols-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on Obesity and Related Metabolic Diseases. Front Nutr. 2019 Dec 20;6:188. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00188.¹⁶Anand David AV, Arulmoli R, Parasuraman S. Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016 Jul-Dec;10(20):84-89. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.194044.

Where to find Flavonifractor in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You will find your Flavonifractor score in the “Butyrate” section of the “Postbiotics” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results.

Synonyms: Flavonifractor species don’t have any well-recognised synonyms, but they are often categorised along with Pseudoflavonifractor, a closely related bacterium when discussed in the context of gut health.

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions.

References

• 1
  Sakamoto M, Tanaka Y, Benno Y, Ohkuma M. Butyricimonas faecihominis sp. nov. and Butyricimonas paravirosa sp. nov., isolated from human faeces, and emended description of the genus Butyricimonas. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2014 Sep;64(Pt 9):2992-2997. doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.065318-0.
• 2
  Ivey KL, Chan AT, Izard J, Cassidy A, Rogers GB, Rimm EB. Role of Dietary Flavonoid Compounds in Driving Patterns of Microbial Community Assembly. mBio. 2019;10(5):e01205-19. Published 2019 Sep 24. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01205-19.
• 3
  Yang G, Hong S, Yang P, et al. Discovery of an ene-reductase for initiating flavone and flavonol catabolism in gut bacteria. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):790. Published 2021 Feb 4. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-20974-2.
• 4
  Thomsen M, Tuukkanen A, Dickerhoff J, et al. Structure and catalytic mechanism of the evolutionarily unique bacterial chalcone isomerase. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2015;71(Pt 4):907-917. doi: 10.1107/S1399004715001935.
• 5
  Hodgkinson K, El Abbar F, Dobranowski P, Manoogian J, Butcher J, Figeys D, Mack D, Stintzi A. Butyrate’s role in human health and the current progress towards its clinical application to treat gastrointestinal disease. Clin Nutr. 2023 Feb;42(2):61-75. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.10.024.
• 6
  Cheng X, Zhou T, He Y, Xie Y, Xu Y, Huang W. The role and mechanism of butyrate in the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Front Microbiol. 2022 Aug 9;13:961536. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.961536.
• 7
  Bourassa MW, Alim I, Bultman SJ, Ratan RR. Butyrate, neuroepigenetics and the gut microbiome: Can a high fiber diet improve brain health? Neurosci Lett. 2016 Jun 20;625:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.02.009.
• 8
  Siddiqui MT, Cresci GAM. The Immunomodulatory Functions of Butyrate. J Inflamm Res. 2021 Nov 18;14:6025-6041. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S300989.
• 9
  Nuzum ND, Szymlek-Gay EA, Loke S, Dawson SL, Teo WP, Hendy AM, Loughman A, Macpherson H. Differences in the gut microbiome across typical ageing and in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropharmacology. 2023 Sep 1;235:109566. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109566.
• 10
  Luo S, Zhao Y, Zhu S, Liu L, Cheng K, Ye B, Han Y, Fan J, Xia M. Flavonifractor plautiiProtects Against Elevated Arterial Stiffness. Circ Res. 2023 Jan 20;132(2):167-181. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.122.321975.
• 11
  Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral Administration of Flavonifractor plautii, a Bacteria Increased With Green Tea Consumption, Promotes Recovery From Acute Colitis in Mice via Suppression of IL-17. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 4;7:610946. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.610946.
• 12
  Mikami A, Ogita T, Namai F, Shigemori S, Sato T, Shimosato T. Oral administration of Flavonifractor plautii attenuates inflammatory responses in obese adipose tissue. Mol Biol Rep. 2020 Sep;47(9):6717-6725. doi: 10.1007/s11033-020-05727-6.
• 13
  Rodriguez-Castaño GP, Rey FE, Caro-Quintero A, Acosta-González A. Gut-derived Flavonifractor species variants are differentially enriched during in vitro incubation with quercetin. PLoS One. 2020 Dec 2;15(12):e0227724. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227724.
• 14
  Pérez-Burillo S, Navajas-Porras B, López-Maldonado A, Hinojosa-Nogueira D, Pastoriza S, Rufián-Henares JÁ. Green Tea and Its Relation to Human Gut Microbiome. Molecules. 2021 Jun 26;26(13):3907. doi: 10.3390/molecules26133907.
• 15
  Corrêa TAF, Rogero MM, Hassimotto NMA, Lajolo FM. The Two-Way Polyphenols-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on Obesity and Related Metabolic Diseases. Front Nutr. 2019 Dec 20;6:188. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00188.
• 16
  Anand David AV, Arulmoli R, Parasuraman S. Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016 Jul-Dec;10(20):84-89. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.194044.

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