Phenol-Explorer is the first comprehensive database on polyphenol content in foods. The database contains more than 35,000 content values for 500 different polyphenols in over 400 foods. These data are derived from the systematic collection of more than 60,000 original content values found in more than 1,300 scientific publications. Each of these publications has been critically evaluated before inclusion in the database. The whole data on the polyphenol composition of foods is available for download.

Release 2.0 of Phenol-Explorer added comprehensive data on polyphenol metabolism. Pharmacokinetic data on 380 metabolites identified in biofluids after the consumption of polyphenol-rich sources are presented. These data have been extracted from 236 publications and originate from 221 intervention studies in human subjects and experimental animals.

Release 3.0 of Phenol-Explorer introduces data on the effects of food processing and cooking. Retention factors describe changes in polyphenol content upon food transformation and can be used to estimate composition of processed foods when laboratory measurements are missing and the data are absent from food composition tables. Retention factors are available for 155 foods, 139 polyphenols, and 35 processes. They are derived from 129 publications.

In version 3.6 (June 2015), 1451 new content values for lignans have been added to the database.

A wide range of queries on foods, polyphenols and metabolites, as identified by various analytical methods, can be executed. Simple queries can be made by typing the name of a polyphenol, metabolite or food source at the top of any page. More complex queries can be performed by using the Advanced search. In this search, two or more foods or polyphenols can be selected, to easily compare for example the contents of the various polyphenols in green and black tea. Using the 'Advanced display option' it is also possible to sort results as desired and to calculate total polyphenol contents per class and subclass.

Phenol-Explorer has been developed at INRA in collaboration with AFSSA, the University of Alberta, the University of Barcelona, IARC and In Siliflo. The work has been made possible thanks to the financial support of the French government, the Institut National du Cancer (France), Unilever, Danone and Nestlé.

We wish you a fruitful polyphenol exploration!

Augustin Scalbert

Contributors

InraBarcelonaUalbertaInsiliflo

Sponsors

Inca