Effect of ring size in R-(+)-pulegone-mediated hepatotoxicity: studies on the metabolism of R-(+)-4-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone and DL-camphorone in rats.

R-(+)-Pulegone, a monoterpene ketone, is a potent hepatotoxin. The present study was designed to evaluate whether the reduction of the ring size in R-(+)-pulegone would affect its mode of metabolism and its hepatotoxic potential. Metabolic fate of R-(+)-4-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (I) and 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (DL-camphorone; II) were examined in rats. Compounds I and II were administered orally (250 mg/kg of b.wt./day) to rats for 5 to 7 days. The following metabolites were isolated and identified from the urine of rats dosed with I: 3-methyl-5-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopent-2-enone (Ie), Z-4-methyl-2-(1-hydroxymethylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (Ib), E-4-methyl-2-(1-hydroxymethylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (Ia), 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (If), 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (Ic), and E-4-methyl-2-(1-carboxyethylidene)-cyclopentanone (Id). Phenobarbital (PB)-induced rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH transformed compound I into metabolites, which were identified as Ia, Ib, Ic, Ie, and If. The following urinary metabolites were isolated and identified from compound II: 5-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (IIc), 5-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-cyclopentanone (IIg), Z-5-methyl-2-(1-hydroxymethylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (IIb), 5-methyl-2-(1-hydroxymethylethyl)-cyclopentanone (IIf), E-5-methyl-2-(1-hydroxymethylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (IIa), E-5-methyl-2-(1-carboxyethylidene)-cyclopentanone (IId), and 5-methyl-2-(1-carboxyethyl)-cyclopentanone (IIe). PB-induced rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH were shown to transform compound II to IIa, IIb, and IIc. Studies carried out in vitro demonstrated that hydroxylation at the tertiary carbon atom or oxidation of the isopropylidene methyl groups in II can be specifically blocked through structural modifications as seen in compounds 2,2-dimethyl-5-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclopentanone (III) and 5-methyl-2-(1-ethyl-1-propylidene)-cyclopentanone (IV). Similar observation was also made when isopropylidene methyl groups in R-(+)-pulegone were replaced by ethyl groups. Intraperitoneal administration of a single dose (250 mg/kg) of I and II to rats did not elicit hepatotoxicity as judged by serum alanine aminotransaminase levels and liver microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activities.

Role of C-5 chiral center in R-(+)-pulegone-mediated hepatotoxicity: metabolic disposition and toxicity of 5, 5-dimethyl-2-(1-Methylethylidene)-cyclohexanone in rats.

Metabolic disposition of 5, 5-dimethyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclohexanone (I) was examined in rats. Compound (I) was administered orally (250 mg/kg of body weight/day) to rats for 5 days. The following urinary metabolites were isolated and identified: 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-3,6, 6-trimethylbenzofuran (III), 3,3-dimethylcyclohexanone (VI), 5, 5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclohexanone (X), 5, 5-dimethyl-2-(1-hydroxymethylethyl)-cyclohexanone (IX), 3-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethylidene)-cyclo hexano ne (XI), 5,6-dihydro-3,6,6-trimethyl-2(4H)-benzofuranone (VIII), and 5,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2-(1-carboxy ethylidene)-cyclohexanone (XIII). Incubation of compound (I) with phenobarbital (PB)-induced rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH resulted in the formation of a metabolite, tentatively identified as a furanoterpene (III) based on proton magnetic resonance, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analyses. The formation of III was inhibited to a significant extent by carbon monoxide, metyrapone, SKF 525-A, and cytochrome c, suggesting the participation of PB-induced microsomal cytochrome P-450 system in the conversion of I to III. Compound I gave type I spectral change in the PB-induced liver microsomes and the dissociation constant (Ks) for I was 38.5 microM. Intraperitoneal administration of a single dose (250 mg/kg) of I to rats resulted in 26, 23, and 41% decreases in the levels of cytochrome P-450, glucose-6-phosphatase, and aminopyrine N-demethylase, respectively, at the end of 24 h. During this period, a 11-fold increase in serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase level was also observed. However, a decrease in the level of cytochrome P-450 and glucose-6-phosphatase, and an increase in serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase values were comparatively more pronounced when R-(+)-pulegone (250 mg/kg) or CCl(4) (0.6 ml/kg) was administered to rats. Pretreatment of rats with PB potentiated the hepatotoxicity caused by I, whereas pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene protected from it. This suggests that PB-induced cytochrome P-450-catalyzed reactive metabolites may be responsible for the toxic effects caused by I.