3,4,5-Trimethoxycinnamic Acid and Related Compounds II. Metabolism in the Rat

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Abstract
1. The metabolism of 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid and some related compounds in the rat has been investigated. 2. The metabolic reactions observed were hydrogenation of the double bond, O-demethylation, p-dehydroxylation, dehydrogenation and O-methylation. In addition, the urinary metabolites were partly excreted as glucuronide and/or sulphate conjugates. 3. Experiments with antibiotic-treated and germ-free rats showed that O-demethylation in the tissues occurred only at one of the meta-positions. Further O-demethylation and p-dehydroxylation to give the ultimate metabolite, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid, were dependent upon the activities of the intestinal micro-organisms. 4. Interconversion of cinnamic and phenylpropionic acids has been demonstrated. Hydrogenation was mainly carried out by the intestinal microorganisms whereas dehydrogenation occurred only in the tissues. 5. O-Methylation of 3,4,5-trihydroxyphenylpropionic acid occurred at both the para- and meta-positions. In the latter case further O-methylation to 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenylpropionic acid was found

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