Comparative detoxication. The detoxication of aromatic acids by invertebrates: detection of agmatine conjugates in scorpions.

1. Benzoic acid and p-nitrobenzoic acid were converted in the scorpion Palamnaeus into N(1)-benzoylagmatine and N(1)-p-nitrobenzoylagmatine. 2. Some benzoyl- and p-nitrobenzoyl-arginine were also formed and these compounds were probable precursors of the agmatine derivatives. 3. p-Nitrobenzoyl- and p-aminobenzoyl-arginine were formed in millipedes dosed with the aromatic acids. 4. Woodlice excreted p-amino- and p-nitro-benzoic acid as their glycine conjugates and no conjugation could be found in the crab Gecarcinus and a freshwater crayfish Astacus.