The Metabolism and Excretion of Curcumin (1,7-Bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) in the Rat

Abstract

1. Cureumin labelled with deuterium and tritium was prepared. Oral and intraperitoneal doses of [³H]curcumin led to the faecal excretion of most of the radioactivity. 2. Intravenous and intraperitoneal doses of [³H]curcumin were well excreted in the bile of cannulated rats. 3. The major biliary metabolites were glucuronides of tetrahydrocurcumin and hexahydrocurcumin. A minor biliary metabolite was dihydroferulic acid together with traces of ferulic acid. Metabolites were identified using chemical ionization mass spectrometry.