title: Identification of metabolites of phytosterols in rat feces using GC/MS.
abstract: Beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol have been known to the phytosterols the most frequently found in plants. Metabolism of phytosterols was investigated using rat feces and liver microsomes. Feces were collected after phytosterols (a well characterized mixture of beta-sitosterol 40%, campesterol 30% and dihydrobrasicasterol) were administered orally (0.5 g/kg) to rats. Metabolites of phytosterols were identified using GC/MS. Three peaks were eluted at 12.47, 12.65, 12.87 min and had characteristic molecular ions m/z 428, 430, 432, respectively. Three fecal metabolites were identified as androstadienedione, androstenedione, and androstanedione. No metabolites could be detected in the rat liver microsomal reaction mixture. The results suggest that the metabolites of phytosterols in rat feces are formed by oxidation at 3- position, saturation at 5- and 6- position, and 17- side chain cleavage in the rat large intestine.
authors.affiliation: Bioanalysis and Biotransformation Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C422003:dihydrobrasicasterol; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol