Isolation and identification of a major urinary canthaxanthin metabolite in rats

The urinary metabolic pattern after administration of the radiolabeled non-provitamin A carotenoid canthaxanthin was investigated in rats. In the rather complex HPLC urinary metabolic pattern a fraction was found which was conjugated. Deconjugation of the polar conjugates with glusulase, purification of the metabolite with HPLC and identification with GC-MS and NMR revealed that it was 3-hydroxy-4-oxo-7,8-dihydro-beta-ionone. This structure was confirmed by comparisons with HPLC retention times, UV/VIS- and NMR-spectroscopy and GC-MS of the synthesized compound.