A new method for simultaneous determination of cyclic antidepressants and their metabolites in urine using enzymatic hydrolysis and fast GC-MS

A method for the simultaneous determination of six commonly prescribed cyclic antidepressants and their major metabolites in urine is presented. This method can be used for quantitation of amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, doxepin, desmethyldoxepin, and maprotiline in human urine, in addition to the qualitative determination of their hydroxylated metabolites. This method is suitable for confirmation of drug abuse in health care professionals and overdose cases where the identity of the abused cyclic antidepressant may not be known. Samples are spiked with internal standard and hydrolyzed with beta-glucuronidase from Escherichia coli. Hydrolysis is found to be essential to the extraction procedure as the tertiary cyclic antidepressants are found to be extensively conjugated in urine. The secondary cyclic antidepressants, on the contrary, are found to be minimally conjugated. Drugs are extracted from alkalinized urine into solvent and derivatized with MSTFA/ammonium iodide/ethanethiol reagent. This reagent produces more stable derivatives compared to reagents previously employed. Gas chromatographic (GC)-mass spectrometric analysis is performed in electron ionization mode by selective ion monitoring, using hydrogen as a carrier gas, a short narrow bore GC capillary column, and fast temperature program, allowing for a rapid analytical cycle. While maintaining specificity for these drugs, concentrations in human urine ranging from 50 to 20,000 ng/mL can be measured with intraday and interday precisions, expressed as variation coefficient, of less than 2.8% for all analytes.     

Identifying metabolites of diphenidol by liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap mass spectrometry using rat liver microsomes,human blood,and urine samples

In recent years, diphenidol [1,1-diphenyl-4-piperidino-1-butanol] has been one of the drugs that appears in suicide cases, but there are few research data on its metabolic pathways and main metabolites. Metabolite identification plays a key role in drug safety assessment and clinical application. In this study, in vivo and in vitro samples were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Structural elucidation of the metabolites was performed by comparing their molecular weights and product ions with those of the parent drug. As a result, 10 Phase I metabolites and 5 glucuronated Phase II metabolites were found in a blood sample and a urine sample from authentic cases. Three other Phase I metabolites were identified in the rat liver microsomes incubation solution. The results showed that the main metabolic pathways of diphenidol in the human body include hydroxylation, oxidation, dehydration, N-dealkylation, methylation, and conjugation with glucuronic acid. This study preliminarily clarified the metabolic pathways and main metabolites of diphenidol. For the development of new methods for the identification of diphenidol consumption, we recommend using M2-2 as a marker of diphenidol entering the body. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the pharmacokinetics and forensic scientific research of diphenidol.     

Glucuronidation of carcinogenic arylamine metabolites by rat liver microsomes

Since 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), 4-acetylaminobiphenyl (4-AABP) and 2-aminonaphthalene (2-AN) display varying degrees of carcinogenicity in the rat, which is capable of N-acetylating arylamines, an attempt was made to correlate the difference in carcinogenicity of these compounds with the ease of O-glucuronidation of their hydroxamic acids by rat hepatic microsomes, a reaction believed to be a detoxification mechanism. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity of rat hepatic microsomes was activated by Triton X-100. Glucuronidation by Triton X-100 activated microsomes of the N-hydroxy derivative of 2-AN was approximately 1.5 and 1.8 times faster than the corresponding derivatives of 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) and 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) respectively. However, glucuronidation of the N-hydroxy-N-acetyl derivative of 2-AN was 40 and 17 times faster than the corresponding derivatives of 2-AF and 4-ABP respectively. Aroclor 1254 and 3-methylcholanthrene, but not phenobarbital, acetanilide and butylated hydroxytoluene, induced the enzyme for the glucuronidation of 2-AN derivatives. The present study (1) demonstrates an inverse relationship between the carcinogenicity of 2-AN, 4-AABP and 2-AAF and the ease of glucuronidation of their hydroxamic acid derivatives, and (2) suggests that, in addition to N- and C-hydroxylation, glucuronidation may play an important role in determining the carcinogenicity of arylamines and arylacetamides in the rat.     

Isolation and identification of new rapamycin dihydrodiol metabolites from dexamethasoneinduced rat liver microsomes

1. Rapamycin is metabolically transformed in rat liver microsomes to 3,4- and 5,6- dihydrodiol metabolites under the influence of the cytochrome P-450 mixed function oxygenase system. These metabolites were produced from dexamethasone-induced as well as from non-induced rat liver microsomes. The comparison of the ion spray mass spectra of the 5,6-dihydrodiol with the 3,4-dihydrodiol of rapamycin shows clearly that dihydrodiols were formed in two distinct positions of rapamycin. 2. FAB mass spectra as well as electrospray mass spectra of two additional peaks isolated from the same chromatographic run confirm the presence of a 3,4-dihydrodiol metabolite of rapamycin as also strongly suggested by UV spectra.Hplc reinjection of each individualpeak always resultedinchromatograms showing a combinationof thesame three peaks and therefore are to be considered as tautomers of the 3,4-dihydrodiol of rapamycin. 3. These tautomeric conformations were found to have no immunosuppressive potency, most probably due to important structural and stereochemical modifications of the rapamycin binding domain to the binding protein (FKBP-12) and or to important metabolic structural modifications of rapamycin effector domain.     

Screening procedure for detection of antidepressants of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor type and their metabolites in urine as part of a modified systematic toxicological analysis procedure using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) screening procedure was developed for detection of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in urine as part of a systematic toxicological analysis procedure. After acid hydrolysis of one aliquot of urine, another aliquot was added. The mixture was then liquid-liquid extracted at pH 8-9, acetylated, and GC separated. Using mass chromatography with the ions m/z 58, 72, 86, 173, 176, 234, 238, and 290, the possible presence of SSRIs and/or their metabolites could be indicated. The identity of positive signals in such mass chromatograms was confirmed by comparison of the peaks underlying full mass spectra with the reference spectra recorded during this study. The overall recoveries of citalopram, sertraline, and paroxetine ranged between 60 and 80%, and those of fluoxetine and fluvoxamine, which were destroyed during acid hydrolysis, were between 40 and 45%. The coefficients of variation were less than 10-20%, and the limit of detection was at least 100 ng/mL (signal-to-noise ratio = 3). This method allowed the detection of therapeutic concentrations of citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline in human urine samples.     

Influence of classic and atypical neuroleptics on caffeine oxidation in rat liver microsomes

Caffeine is a marker drug for testing the activity of CYP1A2 (3-N-demethylation) in humans and rats. Moreover, CYP3A seems to be essential for its metabolism (8-hydroxylation). In the case of 1-N- and, in particular, 7-N-demethylation of caffeine, apart from CYP1A2, other CYP isoenzymes play a considerable role, probably CYP2B and/or CYP2E1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of two classic neuroleptics (promazine and haloperidol) and two atypical ones (risperidone and sertindole) on cytochrome P-450 activity measured by caffeine oxidation in rat liver microsomes. The obtained results showed that promazine, a phenothiazine neuroleptic with the simplest chemical structure, significantly inhibited 1-N- and 3-N-demethylation and 8-hydroxylation of caffeine via competitive or mixed mechanism (Ki = 21.8, 25.4 and 58.2 microM, respectively). This indicates inhibition by promazine of CYP1A2 (inhibition of 3-N- and 1-N-demethylation), and possibly CYP3A2 (inhibition of 8-hydroxylation), but not of other CYP isoenzymes involved in 7-N-demethylation of caffeine (e.g. CYP2B2 and/or CYP2E1). In contrast to promazine, haloperidol had no effect on the oxidation reactions of caffeine in the applied in vitro metabolic model. The potency of inhibition of caffeine oxidation by risperidone and sertindole resembled rather haloperidol than promazine. Risperidone appeared to be a very weak inhibitor of 3-N-demethylation and 8-hydroxylation (Ki = 202.5 microM) and had no effect on 1-N- and 7-N-demethylation of caffeine. Sertindole was a very poor inhibitor of 1-N- and 7-N-demethylations and 8-hydroxylation pathways of the marker substance (Ki = 132.1, 434.1 and 173.3 microM, respectively); even the observed in vitro inhibition of 3-N-demethylation of caffeine by sertindole (Ki = 68.9 microM) cannot be of practical significance in vivo, considering extremely low pharmacological and therapeutic doses of the neuroleptic. In summary, among the investigated neuroleptics, only promazine showed significant inhibitory activity towards caffeine metabolism in vitro (inhibition of CYP1A2 and possibly CYP3A), which may be of pharmacological and clinical importance in vivo. In contrast to promazine, haloperidol and the investigated atypical neuroleptics had no or very weak effect on caffeine oxidation in vitro,of no in vivo significance. Considering the results of the present and previous studies, it seems highly likely that promazine may cause pharmacokinetic interactions, while atypical neuroleptics seem to be safe in this respect. Moreover, the observed reaction-dependent effects of promazine and sertindole provide indirect evidence that CYP1A2 is not the only isoenzyme important for the metabolism of caffeine, which requires further pharmacological and clinical consideration.     

Novel metabolites of buprenorphine detected in human liver microsomes and human urine.

The in vitro metabolism of buprenorphine was investigated to explore new metabolic pathways and identify the cytochromes P450 (P450s) responsible for the formation of these metabolites. The resulting metabolites were identified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition to norbuprenorphine, two hydroxylated buprenorphine (M1 and M2) and three hydroxylated norbuprenorphine (M3, M4, and M5) metabolites were produced by human liver microsomes (HLMs), with hydroxylation occurring at the tert-butyl group (M1 and M3) and at unspecified site(s) on the ring moieties (M2, M4, and M5). Time course and other data suggest that buprenorphine is N-dealkylated to form norbuprenorphine, followed by hydroxylation to form M3; buprenorphine is hydroxylated to form M1 and M2, followed by N-dealkylation to form M3 and M4 or M5. The involvement of selected P450s was investigated using cDNA-expressed P450s coupled with scaling models, chemical inhibition, monoclonal antibody (MAb) analysis, and correlation studies. The major enzymes involved in buprenorphine elimination and norbuprenorphine and M1 formation were P450s 3A4, 3A5, 3A7, and 2C8, whereas 3A4, 3A5, and 3A7 produced M3 and M5. Based on MAb analysis and chemical inhibition, the contribution of 2C8 was higher in HLMs with higher 2C8 activity, whereas 3A4/5 played a more important role in HLMs with higher 3A4/5 activity. Examination of human urine from subjects taking buprenorphine showed the presence of M1 and M3; most of M1 was conjugated, whereas 60 to 70% of M3 was unconjugated.     

Screening procedure for detection of diuretics and uricosurics and/or their metabolites in human urine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after extractive methylation

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based screening procedure was developed for the detection of diuretics, uricosurics, and/or their metabolites in human urine after extractive methylation. Phase-transfer catalyst remaining in the organic phase was removed by solid-phase extraction on a diol phase. The compounds were separated by GC and identified by MS in the full-scan mode. The possible presence of the following drugs and/or their metabolites could be indicated using mass chromatography with the given ions: m/z 267, 352, 353, 355, 386, and 392 for thiazide diuretics bemetizide, bendroflumethiazide, butizide, chlorothiazide, cyclopenthiazide, cyclothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, metolazone, polythiazide, and for canrenoic acid and spironolactone; m/z 77, 81, 181, 261, 270, 295, 406, and 438 for loop diuretics bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, piretanide, torasemide, as well as the uricosurics benzbromarone, probenecid, and sulfinpyrazone; m/z 84, 85, 111, 112, 135, 161, 249, 253, 289, and 363 for the other diuretics acetazolamide, carzenide, chlorthalidone, clopamide, diclofenamide, etozoline, indapamide, mefruside, tienilic acid, and xipamide. The identity of positive signals in such mass chromatograms was confirmed by comparison of the peaks underlying full mass spectra with reference spectra. This method allowed the detection of the abovementioned drugs and/or their metabolites in human urine samples, except torasemide. The limits of detection ranged from 0.001 to 5 mg/L in the full-scan mode. Recoveries of selected diuretics and uricosurics, representing the different chemical classes, ranged from 46% to 99% with coefficients of variation of less than 21%. After ingestion of the lowest therapeutic doses, furosemide was detectable in urine samples for 67 hours, hydrochlorothiazide for 48 hours, and spironolactone for 52 hours (via its target analyte canrenone). The procedure described here is part of a systematic toxicological analysis procedure for acidic drugs and poisons.     

Metabolic profiling of deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine and identification of new target metabolites in urine and hair using human liver microsomes and high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry

The aim of this study was to identify new markers of deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine (O-PCE), a ketamine analogue that has been involved in acute intoxications with severe outcomes including death and whose metabolism has never been studied before. In vitro study after 2-h incubation with pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) cross-checked by the analysis of urine and hair from a 43-year-old O-PCE user (male) were performed by liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Acquired data were processed by the Compound Discoverer® software, and a full metabolic profile of O-PCE was proposed. In total, 15 metabolites were identified, 10 were detected in vitro (HLMs) and confirmed in vivo (urine and/or hair), two were present only in HLMs, and the remaining three metabolites were identified only in biological specimens. While O-PCE was no longer detected in urine, nine metabolites were identified allowing to increase its detection window. In descending order of metabolites abundance, we suggest using 2-en-PCA-N-Glu (34%, first), M3 (16%, second), O-PCA-N-Glu (15.4%, third), OH-O-PCE (15%, fourth) and OH-PCE (11.9%, fifth) as target metabolites to increase the detection window of O-PCE in urine. In hair, nine metabolites were identified. OH-PCA was the major compound (78%) with a relevant metabolite to parent drug ratio (=6) showing its good integration into hair and making it the best marker for long-term monitoring of O-PCE exposure.     

Antitumor activity of two gelsemine metabolites in rat liver microsomes

Gelsemine is one of the major alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth., which has been used as an antitumor remedy in clinic. In this paper, metabolism of gelsemine has been investigated in vitro in phenobarbital-treated rat liver microsomes. The metabolites of gelsemine were separated and evaluated using the flash silica gel column, preparative HPLC, using NMR and MS methods. According to the spectral data, two metabolites, M1 and M2, were identified as 4-N-demethylgelsemine and 21-oxogelsemine, respectively. By the MTT method in vitro, the antitumor activities between gelsemine and its metabolites were compared in the HepG2 and HeLa cell lines. Moreover, the main metabolic pathway was further proposed.     

Identification and structure characterization of S-containing metabolites of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole in rat urine and liver microsomes.

After ip administration of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (3-BHA) to rats, two previously undocumented metabolites 2-tert-butyl-5-methylthiohydroquinone (TBHQ-5-SMe) and 2-tert-butyl-6-methylthiohydroquinone (TBHQ-6-SMe) were identified in the urine by comparison with the authentic samples by GC/MS. In addition to these metabolites, 3-tert-butyl-4,5-dihydroxyanisole was also detected in the urine hydrolyzed by beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase. Administration of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), an O-demethylated metabolite of 3-BHA, also resulted in the formation of the S-containing metabolites, TBHQ-5-SMe and TBHQ-6-SMe. After incubation of TBHQ with rat liver microsomes in the presence of glutathione (GSH), two metabolites were isolated and purified by HPLC. The metabolites were identified as 2-tert-butyl-5-(glutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone and 2-tert-butyl-6-(glutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone by 1H- and 13C-NMR spectrometry and by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry. The formation of TBHQ-GSH conjugates required NADPH, molecular oxygen, and GSH. Cytochrome P-450 inhibitors such as SKF 525-A and metyrapone markedly inhibited the formation of TBHQ-GSH conjugates in vitro. These results suggest that TBHQ is converted by cytochrome P-450-mediated monooxygenases to a reactive metabolite, 2-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (TBQ), which then conjugates with GSH to form TBHQ-GSH conjugates. GSH S-transferase activities do not seem to play a role in GSH conjugation reaction to TBQ because cytosol fraction from rat liver homogenates did not enhance the microsome-mediated production of TBHQ-GSH conjugates.     

The effect of antidepressants on ethylmorphine and imipramine N-demethylation in rat liver microsomes

The effects of single and multiple doses of desipramine, amitriptyline or citalopram on the rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 level and on the rate of ethylmorphine and imipramine demethylation in-vitro have been investigated. Desipramine, amitriptyline or citalopram when given to rats as a single dose, did not affect the level of cytochrome P-450 in the liver microsomes, however, there was a tendency towards acceleration of imipramine, and particularly ethylmorphine, demethylation. Prolonged administration of desipramine and citalopram, but not amitriptyline, elevated the microsomal level of cytochrome P-450 and accelerated the rate of ethylmorphine demethylation. All the drugs investigated, when given chronically, inhibited the rate of imipramine demethylation. Since demethylation of ethylmorphine and imipramine in a CO atmosphere was inhibited by ca 90% for the former and only by 58% for the latter, it can be assumed that prolonged administration of the drugs investigated has two different effects on the oxygenase systems in rat liver microsomes: on the one hand they stimulate the cytochrome P450 oxygenase system involved in ethylmorphine demethylation and, on the other, they inhibit the other microsomal oxygenase system involved in demethylation of imipramine.     

Activation of 14C-toluene to covalently binding metabolites by rat liver microsomes

14C-Toluene was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of an NADPH-generating system and metabolites were concentrated on cyclohexyl cartridges. The metabolites were separated by reverse phase HPLC and identified by comparing the retention time to standards. 14C-Toluene was converted to 14C-benzylalcohol, 14C-cresols, and an unidentified 14C-metabolite. Some of the radioactivity was found to bind covalently to microsomal macromolecules, preferentially to proteins. The binding was proportional to incubation time and microsomal protein concentration and required NADPH and molecular oxygen. The binding was greatly diminished when microsomes were heat denatured. The binding process was partially inhibited by carbon monoxide and SKF 525-A. When microsomes from phenobarbital- and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats were employed, binding was enhanced by 8- and 4-fold, respectively. The binding process was effectively diminished by the presence of reduced glutathione or cysteine in the incubation mixture and was not affected by lysine. Styrene oxide greatly enhanced binding. UDP-glucuronic acid, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbic acid also diminished the binding to some degree. It was concluded that toluene undergoes a hepatic microsomal monooxygenase-mediated activation, and the resultant reactive metabolites binds covalently to microsomal proteins.     

Identification of metabolites of meisoindigo in rat, pig and human liver microsomes by UFLC-MS/MS

3-(1,2-Dihydro-2-oxo-3H-indol-3-ylidene)-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-2H-indol-2-one, abbreviated as meisoindigo, has been a routine therapeutic agent in the clinical treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia in China since the 1980s. To gain an understanding of the interspecies differences in the metabolism of meisoindigo, the relevant metabolism studies were carried out for the first time in rat, pig and human liver microsomes of different genders by ultra fast liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS). The qualitative metabolite identification was accomplished by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in combination with Enhanced Product Ion (EPI). The semi-quantitative metabolic stability and metabolite formation were simultaneously measured by MRM. The in vitro metabolic pathways of meisoindigo in three species were proposed as 3,3′ double bond reduction, followed by N-demethylation, and reduction followed by phenyl mono-oxidation. Two novel metabolic pathways involving direct phenyl mono-oxidation without reduction in the three species, and direct N-demethylation without reduction in only pig and human, were also proposed. It may be noted that the two metabolites formed after reduction followed by phenyl mono-oxidation at positions 4, 5, 6 or 7, as well as one metabolite formed from direct phenyl mono-oxidation at either of the two phenyl rings without reduction were found to be uniquely present in human. The in vitro t_1/2 and in vitro CL_int values of meisoindigo were calculated. Statistical analysis showed there were no significant differences in the metabolic stability profiles of meisoindigo among three species, and gender effect on the metabolic stability of meisoindigo was negligible. Formation profiles of the most significant reductive metabolites were obtained in the three species.     

2,2',5,5'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl: isolation and identification of metabolites generated by rat liver microsomes

The in vitro metabolism of 2,2',5,5'-tetrachloro[3H]biphenyl (TCB) by control and phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes has been investigated. Phenobarbital induction was found to significantly increase (30-fold) the NADPH-dependent, microsomal metabolism of TCB above that observed with control microscomes. The metabolites generated by microsomes of phenobarbital-induced rats were separated by Sephadex LH-20 and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and were subsequently characterized by infrared and mass spectral (MS) analyses and techniques of catalytic dechlorination with GLC/MS comparison to biphenylol standards. The major metablite, representing 90% of all metabolic products, was identified as 3-hydroxy-TCB. 3,4-Dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-TCB was identified as a minor metabolite (5%), and trace amounts of two chromatographically and spectrally distinct dihydroxy-TCB's (4% and 1%) were also found. This in vitro metabolic profile is consistent with that found in vivo and suggests a mechanism of TCB metabolism incorporating both direct hydroxylation and an arene oxide intermediate.     

In vitro identification of metabolites of verapamil in rat liver microsomes

AIM: To investigate the metabolism of verapamil at low concentrations in rat liver microsomes. METHODS: Liver microsomes of Wistar rats were prepared using ultracentrifuge method. The in vitro metabolism of verapamil was studied with the rat liver microsomal incubation at concentration of 1.0 μmol/L and 5.0 μmol/L. The metabolites were separated and assayed by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MS^n), and further identified by comparison of their mass spectra and chromatographic behaviors with reference substances. RESULTS: Eightmetabolites, including two novel metabolites (M4 and MS), were found in rat liver microsomal incubates. They were identified as O-demethyl-verapamil isomers (M1 - M4), N-dealkylated derivatives of verapamil (MS-MT), and N, O-didemethyl-verapamil (MS). CONCLUSION: O-Demethylation and N-dealkylation were the main metabolic pathways of verapamil at low concentrations in rat liver microsomes, and the relative proportion of them in verapamil metabolism changed with different substrate concentrations.     

Determination of xylazine and its metabolites by GC-MS in equine urine for doping analysis

Xylazine and its main metabolites were detected in equine urine after a single-dose intravenous administration of 0.98 and 1.01 mg/kg body weight xylazine, respectively, in two horses, in order to be used for equine doping control routine analysis. The urine levels of the parent drug and its metabolites were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Xylazine is metabolised rapidly, down to a concentration level of about 1.0 microg/ml after 1-3h administration. Seven metabolites were identified in urine. 4-Hydroxy-xylazine, the major metabolite, could be traced for 25 h and it is regarded as the long-term metabolite of xylazine in horse. 2,6-Dimethylaniline was, for the first time, reported as metabolite in equine.     

Identification of the metabolites of episesamin in rat bile and human liver microsomes

Episesamin is an isomer of sesamin, resulting from the refining process of non-roasted sesame seed oil. Episesamin has two methylendioxyphenyl groups on exo and endo faces of the bicyclic skeleton. The side methylendioxyphenyl group was metabolized by cytochrome-P450. Seven metabolites of episesamin were found in rat bile after treatment with glucuronidase/arylsulfatase and were identified using NMR and MS. The seven metabolites were (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3,4-dihydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-1-1), (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3,4-methylenedioxy-3',4'-dihydroxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-1-2) and (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3,4:3',4'-bis(dihydroxy)-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-2), (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-1m-1), (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3,4-methylenedioxy-3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-1m-2), (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-3',4'-dihydroxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-2m-1) and (7α,7'β,8α,8'α)-3,4-dihydroxy-3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxy-7,9':7',9-diepoxylignane (EC-2m-2). EC-1-1, EC-1-2 and EC-2 were also identified as metabolites of episesamin in human liver microsomes. These results suggested that similar metabolic pathways of episesamin could be proposed in rats and humans.