Studies of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity toward eugenol, using a gas chromatographic method of measurement

A method for the assay of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase activities toward some phenolic compounds and monoterpenoid alcohols is described. The method is based on the disappearance of the free substrate after incubation with microsomes and UDP-glucuronate. This disappearance is recorded using a gas chromatographic process. This method has been used, for example, to characterize the glucuronidation process of eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol). The method could be extended to other substrates. Analytical conditions are given for some of them, especially monoterpenoid alcohols since the studies of their conjugations are a growing field of interest in evaluation of heterogeneity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. The method could also be used with other biological materials including cell suspension and crude liver biopsies.