Abstract: Anthocyanins are ubiquitous in plants, and many studies indicate that they possess diverse biological activities depending on their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Numerous studies have revealed that absorption and transport by intestinal epithelial cells are crucial factors for determining the bioavailability of anthocyanins. Consequently, intestinal cell absorption models have been extensively employed to investigate the absorption and transport of anthocyanins and the underlying mechanisms. This article presents an outline of the intestinal cell models employed to investigate the absorption and transport of functionally active compounds, and highlights the underlying mechanisms of anthocyanin uptake and transport, especially based on the Caco-2 cell monolayer model. We hope that this review will provide a reference for future research to explore the absorption and utilization of functionally active constituents in intestinal cell models.

Key words: anthocyanins; intestinal cell models; absorption and transport; Caco-2 cells