Studies on the Metabolism of d-Limonene (p-mentha-1, 8-diene). IV Isolation and Characterization of New Metabolites and Species Differences in Metabolism

Abstract

1. The main route of elimination of d-limonene administered orally was via the urine in animals and man, 75–95% of the administered radioactivity being excreted in the urine during 2–3 days. Faecal excretion accounted for less than 10% of the dose in animals during 2–3 days.

2. In addition to six metabolites, namely p-mentha-1,8-dien-10-ol (M-I), p-menth-1-ene-8,9-diol (M-II), perillic acid (M-III), perillic acid-8,9-diol (M-IV), p-mentha-1,8-dien-10-yl-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (M-V) and 8-hydroxy-p-menth-1-en-9-yl-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (M-VI) isolated from rabbit urine previously (Kodama et al., 1974), five new metabolites have been isolated from dog and rat urine, and which were characterized as 2-hydroxy-p-menth-8-en-7-oic acid (M-VII), perillylglycine (M-VIII), perillyl-β-D-gluco-pyranosiduronic acid (M-IX), p-mentha-1,8-dien-6-ol (M-X) and probably p-menth-1-ene-6,8,9-triol (M-XI).

3. The major metabolite of d-limonene in the urine was M-IV in rat and rabbit, M-IX in hamster, M-II in dog and M-VI in guinea pig and man.