The digested compounds are continuously removed via special hollow fibre membranes and collected as the bioaccessible fraction. This bioaccessible part has been studied for its potential antimutagenic properties due to antioxidants released from fucus- and grape dietary fibres using the Comet assay. HT29 cells were incubated with TIM-1 bioaccessible fractions of digesta to demonstrate protection against cell damage by H2O2.
Preliminary results indicate that grape and fucus fibres with antioxidant properties contained in surimi and minced fish products may protect the DNA of intestinal cells from being damaged.
Next, the non-digestible fraction delivered from the ileum into the colon compartment of the TIM-1 was introduced in the TIM-2 system, simulating microbial processes in the colon. In TIM-2, which is inoculated with a dense and highly active colonic microbiota, compounds can be investigated on their release, stability, activation or bioconversion in the distal digestive tract for 24 h or longer.