Metabolism of ipriflavone (TC-80) in rats

Metabolic studies of ipriflavone (TC-80) in rats by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the characterization of the following metabolites: the parent compound, 7-hydroxy-3-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, 7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-isopropoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, 2-(3-phenyl-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)oxypropionic acid, 2-[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl]oxypropionic acid and 2-[3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-7-yl]oxypropionic acid. From the metabolites identified, TC-80 was shown to be metabolized primarily by oxidation. In vitro study using tissue slices of rats indicated that the above metabolic changes occurred exclusively in the liver. It was also demonstrated that the compound did not undergo metabolic conversion by gut flora of rats.