Demethylation of imipramine by enteric bacteria

The ability of a number of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to N-demethylate imipramine (I) to desipramine (II) has been investigated. Of the bacteria investigated, almost half were known inhabitants of the human GI tract. More than half of the enteric bacteria studied were capable of N-demethylating imipramine (I) to desipramine (II) to some extent in at least one medium. It was found that the medium in which the organism was grown had a significant effect on the N-demethylase activity observed.