A comparison of the metabolic fate of phenol, phenyl glucoside and phenyl 6-O-malonyl-glucoside in the rat.

The metabolic fates of 14C-phenol and its model plant conjugates 14C-phenyl glucoside and 14C-phenyl 6-O-malonyl-glucoside have been compared following equimolar oral dosing to rats (1.2 mg phenol/kg). Rapid excretion of radioactivity in the urine (at least 80% within 24 h) was observed with each compound. Phenol was eliminated as expected mainly as phenyl sulphate (68%) and partly as phenyl glucuronide (12%). The excretion profile for phenyl malonyl-glucoside was very similar to that of phenol, with the exception that small amounts of phenyl glucoside and phenyl malonyl-glucoside were excreted. In contrast, a major part of the dose of phenyl glucoside was eliminated unchanged. The value of metabolism studies in the assessment of the toxicology of xenobiotic metabolites derived from plants is discussed.