In vivo and in vitri biotransformation of terpenoids in rats

Abstract

Terpenoids are ubiquitous in nature and living systems are exposed to these compounds. Although the metabolism of these compounds in mammals has been studied since the beginning of the century, the exhaustive investigation of detailed pathways is recent. In the present investigation, the metabolism of selected terpenoids has been carried out using IR, NMR, and mass spectral analyses. It is known that many compounds either induce or inhibit the hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity. Significant results obtained have been discussed. Hydroxylation of the compounds has been shown to be the major transformation occurring during the in vivo metabolism of the terpenoids. The liver microsomes were shown to hydroxylate ?-myrcene and l-menthol to 10-hydroxylinalool and p-menthane-3,8-diol respectively. The PB-induced microsomes carried out the hydroxylations. The enzyme system, cytochrome P-450 system, has been shown to be involved in the hydroxylations. Partially purified Cyt-P450 and reductase were shown to hydroxylate ?-myrcene and l-menthol in the presence of NADPH and a phospholipid.