Microsomal hydroxylation and glucuronidation of [6]-gingerol.

[6]-Gingerol is the major pungent principle of ginger and frequently is ingested with various condiments and nutritional supplements. We report here that incubation of [6]-gingerol with NADPH-fortified rat hepatic microsomes gave rise to eight metabolites, which were tentatively identified by GC-MS analysis as two products of aromatic hydroxylation as well as the diastereomers of two aliphatic hydroxylation products and the diastereomers of [6]-gingerdiol. Hepatic microsomes from rats and humans fortified with UDPGA glucuronidated [6]-gingerol predominantly at the phenolic hydroxyl group, but small amounts of a second monoglucuronide involving the aliphatic hydroxyl group were also identified by LC-MS/MS analysis. Human intestinal microsomes formed the phenolic glucuronide only. Supersomes containing human UGT1A1 and 1A3 exclusively generated the phenolic glucuronide, albeit with very low activities, whereas UGT1A9 catalyzed the specific formation of the alcoholic glucuronide and UGT2B7 the predominant formation of the phenolic glucuronide with high activities. Our study indicates a rather complex metabolism of [6]-gingerol, which should be taken into consideration for the multiple biological activities of this compound.

Developmental toxicity of polyethylene glycol-g-polyvinyl alcohol grafted copolymer in rats and rabbits.

Polyethylene glycol-g-polyvinyl alcohol (PEG-PVA) grafted copolymer was evaluated in developmental toxicity studies with Wistar rats and Himalayan rabbits. Pregnant Wistar rats were gavaged with 0 (vehicle control), 100, 300, or 1000 mg PEG-PVA grafted copolymer/kg bw/day from gestation day (GD) 6-15. Pregnant Himalayan rabbits received the same treatment from GD 6 to 19. On GD 20 and 29 for rats and rabbits, respectively, the animals were euthanized and were examined grossly. For each dam, corpora lutea were counted and number and distribution of implantation sites were determined. The fetuses were removed, sexed, weighed, and evaluated for any external, soft tissue, and skeletal findings. No significant findings were found that could be attributed to administration of PEG-PVA grafted copolymer. Under the conditions of these studies, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for maternal and developmental toxicity in both species was the highest dose tested of 1000 mg/kg bw/day.

Polyethylene glycol-g-polyvinyl alcohol grafted copolymer: reproductive toxicity study in Wistar rats.

Polyethylene glycol-g-polyvinyl alcohol (PEG-PVA) grafted copolymer was administered by gavage to groups of 25 male and 25 female young Wistar rats at doses of 0 (vehicle control), 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg bw/day for one generation (F0). The study followed the treated F0 generation through mating, gestation, lactation, and weaning of the F1 generation. F1 animals were mated and followed to gestation day (GD) 15-17 at which time F2 implants were evaluated. There were no indications from the various clinical and gross pathological examinations that the oral administration of PEG-PVA grafted copolymer to the F0-parental rats produced any signs of general, reproductive, or developmental toxicity in the F0 or F1 animals or F2 implants. Based on the lack of any dose-related or biologically relevant effects on fertility, reproduction, development, and overall health of rats gavaged with PEG-PVA grafted copolymer and their progeny, the no-observed-adverse effect level (NOAEL) was determined to be the highest dose tested of 1000 mg/kg bw/day.

Polyethylene glycol-polyvinyl alcohol grafted copolymer: study of the bioavailability after oral administration to rats.

The absorption, urinary excretion, and the biliary excretion of a single oral dose of 10 or 1000 mg/kg bw of (14)C-polyethylene glycol-polyvinyl alcohol (PEG-PVA) grafted copolymer were studied in adult male and female rats. In a balance/excretion experiment, the total excretion of ingested radioactivity was determined over a period of 168 h and residual radioactivity was detected in selected tissues and the carcass. In a biliary excretion experiment, excretion of radioactivity via the bile duct was determined over a period of 48 h after administration of the substance to cannulated rats. Most, if not all, of the radioactivity (>100%) was excreted within 48 h via the feces regardless of sex or dose. Urinary excretion was very limited: 0.45-0.50% of dose at the low dose and 0.22-0.27% of dose at the high dose. At both dose levels, residual radioactivity in the carcass and all organs and tissues after 168 h was ≤ 0.02% of dose. Biliary excretion was 0.01-0.02% of dose. Based on these findings, the bioavailability of PEG-PVA grafted copolymer was determined to be <1% demonstrating that absorption was virtually negligible following a single oral administration to male and female rats.

Subchronic toxicity of polyethylene glycol-g-polyvinyl alcohol grafted copolymer.

The safety of polyethylene glycol-g-polyvinyl alcohol (PEG-PVA) grafted copolymer was evaluated in a 13-week oral toxicity study in rats and in a 9-month oral toxicity study in dogs. Wistar rats were administered 600, 3000, or 15,000 ppm PEG-PVA grafted copolymer in their drinking water whereas beagle dogs were fed 3000, 10,000, or 30,000 ppm PEG-PVA grafted copolymer in the diet. There were no mortalities, no adverse clinical signs, no toxicologically adverse effects on body weight or body weight gain, feed consumption, hematological, clinical chemistry or urinary parameters, or histopathology in either species. In rats, no treatment-related effects were observed in the functional observational battery (FOB) or related measurements of motor activity. Increased water consumption observed in rats at the highest dose was the only test substance-induced effect noted. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was the highest concentration tested in both species: 15,000 ppm in rats (corresponding to a daily intake of 1611 mg/kg bw for males and 2191 mg/kg bw for females) and 30,000 ppm in dogs (corresponding to a mean daily intake of 783 mg/kg bw for males and 811 mg/kg bw for females).