Does 3-pentadecylcatechol, an urushiol derivative, get absorbed in the body? A rat oral administration experiment

• Published in: Food science and biotechnology Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 997 - 1005
• Main Authors: Jeong, Hang Yeon, Lee, Hyoung Jae, Cho, Jeong-Yong, Moon, Jae-Hak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.07.2020; Springer Nature B.V; 한국식품과학회
• Subjects: Allergies; Anticancer properties; Antioxidants; Biological effects; Blood plasma; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Feces; Food Science; Metabolism; Nutrition; Oral administration; Propylene; Propylene glycol; 식품과학; Stokes; 3-pentadecylcatechol; Absorption metabolism; Urushiol; Rhus verniciflua Stokes
• ISSN: 1226-7708; 2092-6456
• DOI: 10.1007/s10068-020-00739-1

Urushiols are important active compounds found in the sap of the lacquer tree ( Rhus verniciflua Stokes). Recently, various biological effects of urushiols, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities, have been reported. However, urushiols can also induce skin allergies. Nevertheless, the lacquer tree has traditionally been used in Korea as a folk medicine. In this study, we evaluated the absorption and metabolism of 3-pentadecylcatechol (PDC), a natural urushiol. PDC (48.0 mg/kg body wt.) in 1 mL propylene glycol was orally administered to rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, 6 weeks old). Blood plasma, urine, and feces were collected, separately. PDC was not detected in the extracts from rat blood plasma and urine. However, 89.4 ± 5.2% of the orally administered PDC was detected in the feces extracts, indicating that PDC was predominantly excreted and not absorbed.