Lipids from the guinea pig Harderian gland: use of picolinyl and other pyridine-containing derivatives to investigate the structures of novel branched-chain fatty acids and glycerol ethers

The lipid extracted from guinea pig Harderian glands was hydrolysed and the constituents were examined as trimethylsilyl (TMS), (2H9)TMS, methyl ester/TMS, acetonide/TMS, nicotinate/TMS, picolinyl/TMS and nicotinylidene/TMS derivatives by capillary gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Over 70 compounds amounting to over 93% of the extract were identified. These consisted of 1-O-alkyl glycerols (glycerol ethers) with alkyl chains containing from 17 to 21 carbon atoms and fatty acids ranging from 14 to 26 carbon atoms. The alkyl chains in the glycerol ethers were straight, mono- and dimethyl-branched with the major site of branching being at C-14. All straight-chain acids from C14 to C26 were present, with the most abundant being n-24:0. Again mono- and dimethyl branched structures comprised the bulk of the remaining acids. Methyl groups tended to be towards the middle of the chain rather than in the more usual omega-1 (iso) and omega-2 (anteiso) positions, with C-14 again being a major site. The shorter-chain acids tended to have methyl groups closer to the acid group, with several of the short-chain compounds being substituted at C-2. Structural information on the acids was provided by the picolinyl derivatives and the sample provided an opportunity to evaluate these derivatives with branched acids other than the iso and anteiso compounds studied previously. They were found to be satisfactory for analysis of both mono- and dimethyl branched acids with the possible exception of compounds containing a methyl branch at C-4. However, in this case, structural information was provided by the methyl ester.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nicotinylidene derivatives for the structural elucidation of glycerol mono-ethers and mono-esters by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Nicotinylidene and methylnicotinylidene derivatives of representative glycerol ethers and glycerol esters were prepared by their reaction with pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde and 3-acetyl pyridine respectively. Each compound gave two sets of diastereoisomers which could be separated by gas-liquid chromatography. The extent of formation of the derivatives was nearly quantitative and chromatographic peak shape was good. The compounds producing both peaks gave similar spectra but with differences that were characteristic of the isomer. The derivatives fragmented in an analogous manner to that reported earlier for nicotinate derivatives of alcohols and picolinyl derivatives of carboxylic acids, with the production of a series of diagnostic ions formed by radical-induced cleavage of the chain following random hydrogen abstraction. Branched chain compounds, exemplified by glycerol ethers, gave spectra in which one of the ions diagnostic of the branch-point was missing. Unsaturated compounds, exemplified by the glycerol esters, gave characteristic mass spectra in which separation between ions representing formal cleavage at each side of the double bond enabled the position of this bond to be determined. In addition the spectra of unsaturated compounds contained two abundant ions whose formation could be rationalized by abstraction of the allylic hydrogen atoms. The nicotinylidene derivatives gave more diagnostic spectra than the methylnicotinylidene derivatives, whose spectra were complicated by the appearance of ions produced by loss of the methyl and pyridyl groups from the derivative. Both derivatives were superior to the nicotinate derivatives of these dihydroxy compounds in that only one pyridine residue was introduced on derivatization; this gave a lower molecular weight increment and allowed compounds with longer chains to be examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Urinary metabolites of cannabidiol in dog, rat and man and their identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Urinary metabolites of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid of potential therapeutic interest, were extracted from dog, rat and human urine, concentrated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as trimethylsilyl (TMS), [2H9]TMS, methyl ester-TMS and methyloxime-TMS derivatives. Fragmentation of the metabolites under electron-impact gave structurally informative fragment ions; computer-generated single-ion plots of these diagnostic ions were used extensively to aid metabolite identification. Over fifty metabolites were identified with considerable species variation. CBD was excreted in substantial concentration in human urine, both in the free state and as its glucuronide. In dog, unusual glucoside conjugates of three metabolites (4"- and 5"-hydroxy- and 6-oxo-CBD), not excreted in the unconjugated state, were found as the major metabolites at early times after drug administration. Other metabolites in all three species were mainly acids. Side-chain hydroxylated derivatives of CBD-7-oic acid were particularly abundant in human urine but much less so in dog. In the latter species the major oxidized metabolites were the products of beta-oxidation with further hydroxylation at C-6. A related, but undefined pathway resulted in loss of three carbon atoms from the side-chain of CBD in man with production of 2"-hydroxy-tris,nor-CBD-7-oic acid. Metabolism by the epoxide-diol pathway, resulting in dihydro-diol formation from the delta-8 double bond, gave metabolites in both dog and human urine. It was concluded that CBD could be used as a probe of the mechanism of several types of biotransformation; particularly those related to carboxylic acid metabolism as intermediates of the type not usually seen with endogenous compounds were excreted in substantial concentration.

Pharmacokinetics of urinary metabolites of cannabidiol in the dog

The pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol (CBD) and six of its urinary metabolites was investigated in dogs. CBD was administered intravenously to three dogs, and urine was collected at specified time intervals over a period of 30 h. The apparent terminal half-life of CBD calculated from the slope of the sigma minus plot was significantly shorter (2 h) than the half-life of CBD calculated from plasma data (8 h), and the apparent terminal half-life of the metabolites was similar to that of the CBD calculated from plasma data, indicating that the elimination of these metabolites was formation rate limited. The time course of the metabolite excretion could be divided into two phases: the first phase contained mainly monohydroxy metabolites, and the second phase contained mainly metabolites with a carboxylic acid moiety in their side-chain.

In vitro metabolism of cannabichromene in seven common laboratory animals

Metabolism of cannabichromene (CBC) was studied in hepatic microsomal incubates from mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig, cat, hamster, and gerbil. Metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate, concentrated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20, and identified by GC/MS as trimethylsilyl derivatives of both the metabolites themselves and their hydrogenated analogues. Thirteen metabolites were identified. The major metabolites were monohydroxy compounds with hydroxylation at all positions of the pentyl and methylpentenyl chains. An epoxide and its derived dihydrodiol were formed from the double bond in the methylpentenyl chains. Several unidentified decomposition products were found in the extracts from mouse, gerbil, and cat; these appeared to have been produced by the opening of the dihydropyran ring. Metabolism varied considerably between the species, although the trans-hydroxy metabolite 5'-hydroxy-CBC was the major metabolite in most cases. Metabolites hydroxylated in the pentyl chain were more abundant in mouse, rabbit, and cat; the hamster, gerbil, and cat produced the most epoxide-derived material.

In vitro metabolism of cannabigerol in several mammalian species

Microsomal incubations were prepared from the livers of male mice, rats, cats, guinea-pigs, hamsters and gerbils and both male and female rabbits and were incubated with cannabigerol (CBG), a constituent of marihuana. Metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate, concentrated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and examined as trimethylsilyl (TMS) and (2H9)TMS derivatives by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Structural elucidation was aided by hydrogenation of the metabolites to tetrahydro derivatives. Similar metabolites were produced by each of the species but the ratios of the individual compounds differed considerably. Twelve metabolites were identified. The major metabolites were monohydroxy compounds with the hydroxyl group at C-8', C-9', C-4' or at one of any position of the pentyl chain. Reduction of the delta-6' double bond was prominent in the cat to give 8'-hydroxy-6',7'-dihydro-CBG. The other major metabolic route was epoxidation of this double bond and hydrolysis to give 6',7'-dihydroxy-6',7'-dihydro-CBG. Although epoxidation of the other double bond was detected, the resulting metabolite was present in low concentration and hydrolysis was not observed. The mass spectral fragmentation of CBG and its metabolites was dominated by formation of the tropylium ion by cleavage of the C-1'--C-2' bond and by ions formed by cleavage of the C-3'--C-4' and C-4'--C-5' bonds. In addition, compounds containing hydroxylation at C-1"--C-4" (pentyl chain) gave rise to the same abundant diagnostic ions that have been observed for corresponding metabolites of other cannabinoids.

Identification of urinary metabolites of cannabidiol in the dog

Three dogs were treated with cannabidiol (CBD) and urine samples were collected periodically to 30 hr. Metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate before and after hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase, and examined by GC/MS,. Thirty-seven metabolites were identified and another nine partially characterized. Twenty-one of the identified metabolites have not been reported before for this drug. The major oxidative metabolic routes were 6-hydroxylation, both alpha and beta, and beta-oxidation. At 10 hr the major metabolites of this type were 6-hydroxy-4'',5''-bis,nor-CBD-3''-oic acid and 6-oxo-4'',5''-bis,nor-CBD-3''-oic acid, whereas at 22 hr, further beta-oxidation had occurred to give 6-hydroxy-2'',3'',4'',5''-tetrakis,nor-CBD-1"pr-oic acid as the major metabolite. Other metabolic routes were carboxylic acid formation at C-7 accompanied by hydroxylation in the side chain, and dihydroxylation of the C-8,9 double bond. Three compounds, 4''-hydroxy-CBD, 5''hydroxy-CBD, and 6-oxo-CBD were found at early times as glucose conjugates in concentrations that exceeded those of the other metabolites. The unconjugated forms of these metabolites were not found and none of the identified oxidized metabolites were found as glucosides. Only 4'',6-dihydroxy-CBD was found conjugated with glucuronic acid.

In vitro metabolism of cannabidiol in the rabbit: identification of seventeen new metabolites including thirteen dihydroxylated in the isopropenyl chain

The metabolism of cannabidiol (CBD) was studied in liver microsomes from the female New Zealand white rabbit. Metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate, concentrated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and examined as trimethylsilyl (TMS), methyl ester/TMS and (2H9)TMS derivatives by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Thirty-nine metabolites, mainly mono-, di- and tri-hydroxy compounds, were identified; 17 of these have not been reported before. New metabolites included 8,9-dihydroxy-8,9-dihydro-CBD (two isomers) and seven monohydroxy derivatives of each of these two compounds. The mass spectra of the TMS derivatives of metabolites not hydroxylated in the isopropenyl group were generally dominated by the ion produced by retro-Diels-Alder cleavage of the terpene ring. Other structurally informative ions included the tropylium ion and fragments diagnostic of hydroxylation at C-1", C-2", C-3", C-4" and C-7. The spectra of the TMS derivatives of metabolites hydroxylated in the isopropenyl group were generally dominated by the ion at m/z 143. This involved loss of CH2OTMS and a retro-Diels-Alder fragmentation analogous to that seen in the other metabolites, but with charge retention by the other (smaller) fragment. Other, related fragment ions also characterized these metabolites.

Uptake and incorporation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into macrophage lipids and their effect upon macrophage adhesion and phagocytosis

Murine thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages were cultured in the presence of a variety of fatty acids added as complexes with bovine serum albumin. All fatty acids tested were taken up readily by the cells and both neutral and phospholipid fractions were enriched with the fatty acid provided in the medium. This generated a range of cells enriched in saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, including n-3 acids of fish oil origin. Saturated fatty acid enrichment enhanced macrophage adhesion to both tissue culture plastic and bacterial plastic compared with enrichment with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Macrophages enriched with the saturated fatty acids myristate or palmitate showed decreases of 28% and 21% respectively in their ability to phagocytose unopsonized zymosan particles. Those enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids showed 25-55% enhancement of phagocytic capacity. The greatest rate of uptake was with arachidonate-enriched cells. Phagocytic rate was highly correlated with the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio, percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acid and index of unsaturation, except for macrophages enriched with fish-oil-derived fatty acids; they showed lower phagocytic activity than expected on the basis of their degree of unsaturation. These results suggest that membrane fluidity is important in determining macrophage adhesion and phagocytic activity. However, in the case of phagocytosis, this effect may be partially overcome if the cells are enriched with fish-oil-derived fatty acids. Thus it may be possible to modulate the activity of cells of the immune system, and so an immune response, by dietary lipid manipulation.

In vitro metabolism of cannabinol in rat, mouse, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil and cat

Metabolism of cannabinol (CBN) was studied in hepatic microsomal incubates from mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig, cat, hamster and gerbil. Metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate, concentrated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and identified by GC/MS as TMS derivatives. Six monohydroxy metabolites were identified. These had hydroxy groups at C-11 and at all positions of the pentyl side-chain. Metabolism varied considerably between the species. 11-Hydroxylation was the most prominent route in the majority of species, but in the hamster and cat the major metabolic pathway was 4'-hydroxylation. Metabolites hydroxylated in the pentyl chain were generally more abundant in guinea pig, hamster and cat.

Oxidative cleavage of the pentyl side-chain of cannabinoids. Identification of new biotransformation pathways in the metabolism of 4'-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse

During an investigation of the mechanisms leading to the formation of metabolites of cannabinoids in which the pentyl side chain is reduced to 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms, the further metabolism of 4'-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol was investigated in vivo in mice. Metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate, concentrated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and identified by GC/MS. Ten metabolites were identified and a further two had tentative structural assignments made. The major metabolic route, in common with that seen with most cannabinoids, was hydroxylation at the allylic 11-position, followed by oxidation to a carboxylic acid. Additional hydroxylation occurred at C-8. Abundant metabolites were also formed by oxidative cleavage of the pentyl side chain. The major metabolites of this type had lost the terminal two carbon atoms to give compounds containing a carboxyethyl side chain. This is the major product normally produced by beta-oxidation of the acid formed from 5'-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Trace concentrations of two other acids that appeared to have a carboxypropyl side chain were also found. The results show that, in addition to beta-oxidation, initiated by hydroxylation at the 5'-carbon atom (omega-hydroxylation), at least one other oxidative route, initiated by omega-1-hydroxylation, is involved in the production of metabolites with two carbon atoms missing from the pentyl side chain. This pathway does not seem to have been characterized as a biotransformation mechanism in drug metabolism and a possible mechanism is suggested.

Identification of metabolites of the 1",1"-dimethylheptyl analogue of cannabidiol in rat and dog in vivo

1. Metabolism of the 1",1"-dimethylheptyl analogue of cannabidiol (DMH-CBD) was studied using an isolated perfused rat liver preparation and in rat and dog urine. 2. Metabolites were identified using g.l.c.-mass spectrometry of the trimethylsilyl (TMS), methyl ester/TMS and [2H9]TMS derivatives. 3. In contrast with the metabolism of cannabidiol, the dimethylheptyl analogue gave low concentrations of metabolites in all media examined. 4. Four metabolites were found in the perfusion fluid. Two were identified as 6- and 7-hydroxy-DMH-CBD and the other two were found to be hydroxylated in the dimethylheptyl chain but at undetermined positions. 5. Five metabolites were identified in dog urine; these were the 6- and 7-mono-hydroxy and 6,7-dihydroxy derivatives of acids formed by one stage of beta-oxidation of the dimethylheptyl chain, and the 6- and 7-hydroxy derivatives of corresponding acids formed by loss of three carbon atoms from the chain. 6. Metabolic routes were very similar to those found earlier for cannabidiol.

Metabolites of cannabidiol identified in human urine

1. Urine from a dystonic patient treated with cannabidiol (CBD) was examined by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry for CBD metabolites. Metabolites were identified as their trimethylsilyl (TMS), [2H9]TMS, and methyl ester/TMS derivatives and as the TMS derivatives of the product of lithium aluminium deuteride reduction. 2. Thirty-three metabolites were identified in addition to unmetabolized CBD, and a further four metabolites were partially characterized. 3. The major metabolic route was hydroxylation and oxidation at C-7 followed by further hydroxylation in the pentyl and propenyl groups to give 1"-, 2"-, 3"-, 4"- and 10-hydroxy derivatives of CBD-7-oic acid. Other metabolites, mainly acids, were formed by beta-oxidation and related biotransformations from the pentyl side-chain and these were also hydroxylated at C-6 or C-7. The major oxidized metabolite was CBD-7-oic acid containing a hydroxyethyl side-chain. 4. Two 8,9-dihydroxy compounds, presumably derived from the corresponding epoxide were identified. 5. Also present were several cyclized cannabinoids including delta-6- and delta-1-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol. 6. This is the first metabolic study of CBD in humans; most observed metabolic routes were typical of those found for CBD and related cannabinoids in other species.

Identification of glucose conjugates as major urinary metabolites of cannabidiol in the dog

1. Three dogs were treated i.v. with cannabidiol (CBD) and urine collected at intervals to 30 h. 2. Metabolites were extracted, converted into trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives and examined by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 3. The major metabolites excreted at early times were identified as the phenol glucosides of 4"-hydroxy-CBD, 5"-hydroxy-CBD and 6-oxo-CBD. 4. These three oxidized metabolites were not found unconjugated, and none of the free oxidized metabolites in urine were found conjugated with glucose. 5. The conjugates were hydrolysed by beta-glucuronidase Type HP-2 from Helix pomatia and acid phosphatase but not by beta-glucuronidase Type VII from E. coli. Differential reactivity towards alpha- and beta-glucosidase indicated that they possessed the beta-configuration.

In vitro metabolism of delta-11-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, gerbil and cat

1. Liver microsomes were prepared from rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, a cat and three strains of mice, and were incubated with delta-11-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-11-THC). The extracted metabolites were separated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and examined by gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. 2. Eleven metabolites were identified; these were formed by aliphatic hydroxylation of all positions of the pentyl chain, allylic hydroxylation at C-10 and C-8 (alpha and beta), and by the epoxide-diol pathway. 3. The ratio of the metabolites varied considerably between the species. Mice and rats favoured hydroxylation at C-8-alpha with very little hydroxylation of the pentyl chain. 4. In the guinea pig, however, hydroxylation of the pentyl chain, particularly at C-4', produced the major metabolites; very little hydroxylation occurred at C-8. 5. Side-chain hydroxylation was also favoured by the gerbil. 6. In the cat and hamster, 8-beta-hydroxylation was by far the major metabolic route, accounting, in the cat, for nearly 70% of the recovered metabolites. 7. The rabbit, on the other hand, favoured the epoxide-diol pathway with over 70% of the recovered metabolites being accounted for by the 9,11-dihydro-diols. 8. The results emphasise the need to make appropriate choices of animal models for metabolic and toxicological studies in humans.

Further studies on the oxidative cleavage of the pentyl side-chain of cannabinoids: identification of new biotransformation pathways in the metabolism of 3'-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol by the mouse

1. Oxidative degradation of the pentyl side-chain of cannabinoids leading to compounds containing even numbers of carbon atoms was studied by investigating the in vivo metabolism of 2'- and 3'-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 2. The hydroxy cannabinoids were administered i.p. to mice, the livers were removed after 1 h and extracted metabolites were identified by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 3. The major metabolic route for both compounds was hydroxylation at the allylic 11-position followed by oxidation to a carboxylic acid. Additional hydroxylation occurred at C-8. 4. Little oxidative degradation of the side-chain was found for 2'-hydroxy-delta-9-THC but abundant metabolites were formed by this route from the 3'-hydroxy compound. 5. The major metabolites of this type were acids containing three carbon atoms in the chain. These are the normal products of beta-oxidation but their formation from an (omega-2)-hydroxy intermediate appears novel. 6. Other metabolites contained two carbon atoms in the side-chain but were alcohols rather than acids and were again apparently formed by novel mechanisms. 7. The results indicate that the major route leading to cannabinoid metabolites with two-carbon side-chains (loss of three carbon atoms) is initiated by omega-2 hydroxylation.

Identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from hamster meibomian glands using picolinyl and nicotinate derivatives

Meibomian secretions from the hamster were hydrolysed with base and examined as TMS, [2H9]TMS, methyl ester/TMS, picolinyl ester/TMS and nicotinate/TMS derivatives by capillary GC/MS. Over 90 compounds, representing over 89% of the hydrolysed fraction, were identified. Fatty acids with chain lengths from 10 to 32 carbon atoms were found, the most common of these were in the C15 to C18 and in the C25 to C30 regions. Chain types were predominantly iso or anteiso branched, mono-unsaturated (C16 and C18) and straight. Fatty alcohols were mainly from the iso or anteiso series and tended to have longer chain lengths; the major alcohols had anteiso-25 and 27 and iso-26-chains. In these respects the secretions were similar to those reported earlier from other species, although fewer mono-unsaturated compounds with longer chains (C20 to C30 region) were found than in the rat and human. The steroid fraction was characterized by a larger number of compounds than normally present in secretions of this type. The major compound was cholesterol, in common with that in all other examined species except the rabbit.

Long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from gerbil meibomian lipids

Capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify constituent fatty acids, alcohols and steroids from gerbil meibomian glands. Over 80 compounds representing about 90% of the total fraction were identified. The major steroid was cholesterol accompanied by a lower concentration of 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-cholestane. Fatty acids with chain lengths from 12 to 27 carbon atoms were present; they had predominantly straight, iso or anteiso chains with major concentrations in the C15-C18 and C25-C27 regions. Unsaturated acids had mainly 16 and 18 carbon atoms. The fatty alcohols were mainly branched-chain with the majority of compounds having chain lengths of 25-27 carbon atoms. Several alcohols, both branched and unsaturated, were found with chains of up to 33 carbon atoms long. The profile was similar to that found earlier in other species, but with lower concentrations of mono-unsaturated compounds than were found in rats and humans. Di-hydroxy compounds, on the other hand, tended to be more abundant although still of low relative concentration.

Identification of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from human cerumen by the use of picolinyl and nicotinate esters

Human cerumen was hydrolysed with base and the constituents were examined as trimethylsilyl (TMS), methyl ester/TMS, picolinyl/TMS and nicotinate/TMS derivatives by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A sample was also reacted with osmium tetroxide for double bond location. The major constituents were cholesterol, squalene and several series of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols. These latter compounds had chain lengths of 12-26 carbon atoms and were predominantly either straight-chain saturated or straight-chain unsaturated compounds. Saturated branched-chain acids with methyl groups predominantly on even-numbered carbon atoms were present but were less abundant. Unsaturated, branched-chain acids were also present. The major unsaturated acids contained unsaturation at the delta-6-position or were derived from these acids by chain elongation. The compounds were similar to those found in vernix caseosa. The mass spectra of picolinyl esters were, for the first time, shown to be capable of determining both the position of unsaturation and methyl branching in the same molecule.

Metabolism of n-hexyl-homologues of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse

n-Hexyl-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (n-hexyl-delta-8-THC) and n-hexyl-delta-9-THC were synthesized by condensation of (1S)-cis-verbenol with 5-n-hexyl-1,3-dihydroxybenzene and administered intraperitoneally to male Charles-River CD-1 mice. Hepatic metabolites were isolated by solvent extraction and chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and identified by GC/MS. Eleven metabolites were identified from n-hexyl-delta-8-THC and sixteen from n-hexyl-delta-9-THC. The pattern of metabolites was intermediate between that previously observed from the pentyl homologues and that from n-heptyl-delta-9-THC with the major biotransformation pathway being hydroxylation and oxidation at C-11. Other metabolites were mainly hydroxylated derivatives of these compounds. Metabolites containing two hydroxy groups in the side-chain were present in low concentration. These have not been observed from lower homologues but are major metabolites of n-heptyl-delta-9-THC. Compared with the metabolism of the n-pentyl homologue, there was a trend towards the production of more hydroxy metabolites at the expense of carboxylic acids, in keeping with the general reduction of oxidation observed with other homologous cannabinoids as the chain length increases.

In vivo metabolism of the methyl homologues of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and abn-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse

Methyl-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (methyl-delta-8-THC), methyl-delta-9-THC and abn-methyl-delta-8-THC were synthesized by condensation of orcinol and (1S)-cis-verbenol and were administered to male Charles River CD-1 mice. Extracted hepatic metabolites were isolated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and examined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as trimethylsilyl (TMS), (2H9)TMS and methyl ester/TMS derivatives. In addition, metabolic fractions were reduced with lithium aluminium deuteride to convert carboxylic acids to alcohols for structural correlation. Metabolites from methyl-delta-8-THC were similar with respect to the positions substituted to those produced by higher homologues; the major metabolite was methyl-delta-8-THC-11-oic acid. abn-Methyl-delta-8-THC was metabolized in a different manner. The location of the aromatic methyl group at the position adjacent to ring fusion appeared to inhibit metabolism at C(11) to a considerable extent and also to reduce the amount of the resulting alcohol from being oxidized to a carboxylic acid. This caused other metabolic pathways to become dominant, with the result that a compound containing a hydroxy group at the gem-methyl position was the major metabolite. Hydroxylation at this position has not been confirmed with any other cannabinoid, although it is thought to result in trace concentrations of hydroxy metabolites from some compounds. Metabolism of methyl-delta-9-THC was also similar to that of the higher homologues, with the exception that less metabolism occurred at C(8) and a higher percentage of the total metabolic fraction was accounted for by the 11-oic acid metabolite. Minor metabolites were mainly dihydroxy compounds and hydroxylated derivatives of delta-9-THC-11-oic acid.

In vivo metabolism of the n-butyl-homologues of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol by the mouse

1. n-Butyl-homologues of delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 8-THC) and delta 9-THC were synthesized from 5-butyl-1,3-dihydroxybenzene and (1S)-cis-verbenol, and the delta 9-isomer was shown to have the same g.l.c.-mass spectral characteristics as the natural product. 2. Metabolism of these cannabinoids was studied in mice following i.p. injection. Metabolites were extracted from the livers, separated from endogenous lipids by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and examined by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 3. Thirteen metabolites were identified from both n-butyl-delta 8-THC and n-butyl-delta 9-THC. 4. Major metabolic routes were hydroxylations in the 2', 3', 8 and 11 positions and oxidation of the resulting 11-hydroxy-metabolites to carboxylic acids. 5. Metabolism was very similar to that of the pentyl homologues, the major constituents of cannabis, but with the production of a greater proportion of acidic metabolites at the expense of alcohols.

In vivo metabolism of the n-propyl homologues of delta-8- and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse

n-Propyl-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (n-propyl-delta-8-THC and n-propyl-delta-9-THC were synthesized by condensation of (1S)-cis-verbenol with 5-n-propyl-1,3-dihydroxybenzene and administered to male Charles River CD-1 mice. Hepatic metabolites were isolated by solvent extraction and chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Seven metabolites were identified from each cannabinoid. Metabolism was similar to that previously observed from the penyl homologues, with the major biotransformation pathway being the production of 11-hydroxy-propyl-THCs and their oxidation to carboxylic acid metabolites. Other metabolites were mainly hydroxylated derivatives of these compounds and the corresponding 11-alcohol. Less hydroxylation at C(8) was found with n-propyl-delta-9-THC than with the pentyl homologue, and the monohydroxy metabolite, 8-alpha-hydroxy-n-propyl-delta-9-THC, was not observed, even though it was a prominent metabolite from delta-9-THC itself. Hydroxylation occurred in the side-chain at C(2').