The Metabolism and Potential Bioactivity of Chlorophyll and Metallo‐chlorophyll Derivatives in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

Chlorophyll is the vivid chromophore which imparts the green color to plant leaves, and is consumed by humans through green vegetables. The basic porphyrin structure of chlorophyll binds magnesium in plants, but can bind different divalent metals (e.g., copper, zinc, iron) facilitated by food processing techniques and/or chemical synthesis. In this review, we cover the known elements of chlorophyll and metallo-chlorophyll absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion in vitro and in vivo. We discuss what is understood about the ability of these novel metallo-chlorophyll derivatives to deliver essential metals. We also detail chlorophyll and metallo-chlorophyll toxin binding properties which largely occur during digestion, focusing on toxins including dioxins, heterocyclic aromatic amines, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and aflatoxin. Finally, we highlight the gaps in our understanding of the metabolism and metal and toxin-binding bioactivity of this family of molecules. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.