Abstract
A cyclic metabolic pathway was obtained when 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT) was incubated with a rat liver microsomal preparation. The pathway is as follows: BHT → 4-hydroperoxy-4-methyl-2,6-di-t-butylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone (BHT-OOH) → 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2,6-di-t-butylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone (BHT-30OH) → BHT. This metabolic pathway suggests that antioxidants such as BHT owe their high efficacy, at least in part, to their metabolic regeneration.