Metabolites of (+)-dehydroabietic acid in rabbits

The seven metabolites of (+)-dehydroabietic acid (DHA) were newly isolated from rabbit urine by liquid chromatography. On the basis of chemical and spectral data their structures were established to be (15S)-8,11.13-abietatrien-16,18-dioic acid, 2 alpha-hydroxy-8,11,13,15-abietatetraen-18-oic acid, (15R)-15,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, 2 beta,15-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, (15S)-2 beta,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, 2 alpha,15-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, and (15S)-2 alpha,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid. The possible hydroxylation routes of DHA in rabbits and the difference between the metabolism of DHA in microorganisms and that in rabbits are discussed.