Antipyrylharnstoff, ein Stoffwechselderivat des Pyramidons

Xenobiotic-urea conjugates; chemical or biological?

1. Although the major pathways involved in drug metabolism have been elucidated, there remain those routes that may be considered as minor, esoteric, or even artifactual. 2. Conjugation with urea, an abundant, non-toxic, small water soluble molecule, is such a disputed and debatable Phase II pathway. 3. The present article collates data gleaned from the literature concerning xenobiotic-urea conjugation, presents pertinent information resurrecting the controversy and poses questions as to the nature of the phenomenon.

Curiosities in drug metabolism

1. It is inevitable that during some xenobiotic biotransformation studies, a certain metabolite or degradation product arises of which the identity is uncertain, the route of formation is ambiguous, or it is just a plain mystery. 2. The following communication draws attention to three drugs reported in the literature, chlorphentermine, phenothiazine and aminopyrine, where after many years of investigation there still exists uncertainty over some of their metabolites. Noticeably, these three examples probably involve (potential) interaction of a nitrogen centre within the drug molecule. 3. It is hoped that the resurrection and assemblage of these data will offer interesting reading and that these examples may prove sufficiently intriguing to motivate further exploration and some resolution of these lingering concerns.

Kinetics and metabolism of pyrazolones (propyphenazone, aminopyrine and dipyrone)

1 Propyphenazone 220 mg was administered orally to volunteers. Maximum plasma concentrations between 1.5 microgram/ml and 3.5 micrograms/ml were found 30 min later. After comparable doses plasma concentrations in dog and rabbit were lower. The distribution volumes were 2 l/kg. 2 The major metabolic route of propyphenazone is demethylation. The main urinary metabolite is the enolglucuronide of N-(2)-demethylpropyphenazone. 3 Aminopyrine is rapidly and almost completely absorbed after oral administration. Maximum plasma concentrations of 10 microgram/ml are reached 1.5 h after a 500 mg dose. The biological half-life is 2-3 h, the relative distribution volume 60% on average, and binding to plasma proteins approximately 15%. 4 Unchanged aminopyrine is only excreted in small quantities. The major routes of metabolism are demethylation (4-methylaminoantipyrine and 4-aminoantipyrine) and acylation (4-acetyl and 4-formylaminoantipyrine). There are other biotransformation products. 5 After oral administration of [14C]-dipyrone 480 mg the maximum serum concentration of 13.4 +/- 0.8 microgram/ml occurred at 1-1.5 hours. 6 Dipyrone was not detectable in serum or urine. Four of seven metabolites were identified, and were identical with the main metabolites of aminopyrine.