Studies in detoxication. 26. The fates of phenol, phenylsulphuric acid and phenylglucuronide in the rabbit, in relation to the metabolism of benzene

Abstract

Besides forming the main metabolites, phenylsulfuric acid and phenylglucuronide, phenol is oxidized to a small extent to quinol, catechol and hydroxyquinol, which occur only in the ethereal sulfate fraction of the urine. The main oxidation product is quinol. Both quinol and catechol were isolated as p-toluenesulfonates from phenol urine. Orally administered K phenylsulfate and injected phenylglucuronide are excreted almost quantitatively unchanged by the rabbit. Orally administered phenylglucuronide causes a considerable rise in ethereal sulfate output and small amts. of quinol, catechol and hydroxyquinol are also excreted. The evidence suggests that phenylglucuronide is partly hydrolyzed in the gut yielding free phenol which is then oxidized to polyphenols. The polyphenols of benzene and phenol metabolism are concluded to be products of the oxidation of free phenol and not of conjugated phenol.