Aflatoxicol M₁, A New Metabolite of Aflatoxicol

Abstract

1. Using dog liver microsomal preparations, we have isolated and identified a new metabolite of aflatoxicol, aflatoxicol M₁; this metabolic transformation is analogous to the conversion of aflatoxin B₁ to aflatoxin M₁.

2. Aflatoxicol M₁ can also be produced from aflatoxin M₁ by a reductase present in rabbit liver cytosol, a reaction analogous to the reduction of aflatoxin B₁ to aflatoxicol.

3. In addition, aflatoxicol M₁ can be oxidized to aflatoxin M₁ by a carbon monoxide-insensitive dehydrogenase activity associated with human liver microsomes, a reaction analogous to the production of aflatoxin B₁ from aflatoxicol by this fraction.

4. Ultra-violet, fluorescence, and mass spectral characteristics of aflatoxicol M₁ are described.

5. The significance of this new aflatoxin metabolite and the possibility that it may be biologically active are discussed.