Biotransformation of trans-sobrerol. III. Metabolites of 8-hydroxycarvotanacetone in the rat

1. The metabolism of 8-hydroxycarvotanacetone (HCA), a major metabolite of trans-sobrerol, was studied in female rats after a single oral dose.2. The metabolic pathways include hydroxylation, reduction to cis- and trans-sobrerol, glucuronylation and Michael addition with glutathione giving rise to mercapturic acids which then undergo reduction.3. Biological reduction appears to occur more readily for the alicyclic-saturated ketones (Michael adducts) than for the α, β unsaturated ketones (HCA and hydroxylated metabolites). This is in agreement with the chemical reactivity of the compounds.