Distribution of inhaled volatile turmerones in the mouse

Abstract Turmerones (α-turmerone, β-turmerone, and ar-turmerone), the main bioactive compounds in turmeric (Curcuma longa), are used as herbal medicines in Asia. The distinct feature of turmerones is their strong flavor, which is attributed to their volatility. Orally administered turmerones are reportedly distributed in their intact forms in organs; however, the distribution of inhaled volatile turmerones in the body remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate the distribution of inhaled volatile turmerones. After mice were exposed to volatile turmeric oil, turmerones were found in the lung, olfactory bulb, brain, serum, heart, liver, kidney, epididymal fat, and brown adipose tissue. Each turmerone had a different range of concentrations in the different organs: α-turmerone (5.74 to 425 ng/kg), β-turmerone (6.41 to 231 ng/kg), and ar-turmerone (61.0 to 594 ng/kg). These results suggested that volatile turmerones could be incorporated into the animal body with a distinct range of concentration for each organ.