Glucuronide-sulfate diconjugate as a novel metabolite of glycyrrhetic acid in rat bile

Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2008;23(3):175-80. doi: 10.2133/dmpk.23.175.

Abstract

To study the metabolites of glycyrrhetic acid (GA) in rat bile, an analytical method was developed to identify GA and its metabolites by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Rat bile was collected after i.v. injection of GA. Three major GA-related peaks were detectable in rat bile by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis at 254 nm. LC-MS spectra showed their protonated molecular ions at m/z 727, 647, and 551. Furthermore, the three metabolites were also confirmed to exist in rat bile on LC-MS total ion chromatogram (TIC). Taken together with the susceptible nature to beta-glucuronidase digestion and alkaline conditions, they were identified to be a novel sulfate-glucuronide diconjugate and the known monoglucuronide and sulfate conjugate, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Bile / metabolism*
  • Biotransformation
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Glucuronides / metabolism*
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / metabolism
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / pharmacokinetics*
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Sulfates / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Glucuronides
  • Sulfates
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid