Gentisuric acid: Metabolic formation in animals and identification as a metabolite of aspirin in man

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Abstract
Gentisuric acid was synthesized from gentisic acid and glycine ethyl ester. NMR, mass spectrometric and elemental analysis confirmed the product as GU, and physicochemical characteristics were determined. A TLC-densitometric technique was developed to estimate GU and other metabolites of aspirin. Conjugation of gentisic acid with glycine to form GU was catalyzed by a mitochondrial fraction of rat and beef liver. GU was also formed by the rat liver microsomal hydroxylation of salicyluric acid, and phenobarbital pretreatment increased this formation. A random survey showed GU in 76% of SA-positive urines from aspirin-treated patients. Identity of GU in urine from two aspirin-treated patients was confirmed by TLC and mass spectrometric analysis, and hydrolysis of the compound from one patient yielded glycine and gentisic acid. Urine from controls or post-aspirin treatment patients did not show GU by TLC analysis. These results demonstrate for the first time the metabolic formation of GU in animals and its occurrence as a metabolite of aspirin in man.