Studies on drug metabolism by use of isotopes XXVII: urinary metabolites of rutin in rats and the role of intestinal microflora in the metabolism of rutin.

Analysis of urinary metabolites of orally administered rutin (I) labeled with deuterium [( 2',5',6'-2H]rutin, rutin-d) was carried out by GLC-MS. In rat urine, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (III), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (IV), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (V), 3,4-dihydroxytoluene (VI), and 3-(m-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (VIII) were identified as rutin metabolites and were differentiated from the corresponding endogeneous compounds. Unchanged I and quercetin (II) were not present in the urine. Rutin-d was injected intraperitoneally in rats, administered orally to neomycin-treated rats, and incubated in vitro with the intestinal contents of rats. The experiments suggested the involvement of intestinal microflora in the metabolism of orally administered I.