Metabolism of geraniol and linalool in the rat and effects on liver and lung microsomal enzymes

Abstract

Metabolites isolated from the urine of rats after oral administration of geraniol (I) were: geranic acid (II), 3-hydroxy-citronellic acid (III), 8-hydroxy-geraniol (IV), 8-carboxy-geraniol (V) and Hildebrandt acid (VI). Metabolites isolated from urine of rats after oral administration of linalool (VII) were 8-hydroxy-linalool (VIII) and 8-carboxy-linalool (IX). After three days of feeding rats with either geraniol or linalool, liver-microsomal cytochrome P-450 was increased. Both NADH- and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities were not significantly changed during the six days of treatment. Oral administration of these two terpenoids did not affect any of the lung-microsomal parameters measured.