The metabolism of 1,8-cineole after ingestion of sage tea was studied. After application of the tea, the metabolites 2-hydroxy-1,8-cineole, 3-hydroxy-1,8-cineole, 9-hydroxy-1,8-cineole and, for the first time in humans, 7-hydroxy-1,8-cineole were identified in plasma and urine of one volunteer. For quantitation of these metabolites and the parent compound, stable isotope dilution assays were developed after synthesis of [(2)H(3)]-1,8-cineole, [9/10-(2)H(3)]-2-hydroxy-1,8-cineole and [(13)C,(2)H(2)]-9-hydroxy-1,8-cineole as internal standards. Using these standards, we quantified 1,8-cineole by solid phase microextraction GC-MS and the hydroxyl-1,8-cineoles by LC-MS/MS after deconjugation in blood and urine of the volunteer. After consumption of 1.02 mg 1,8-cineole (19 μg/kg bw), the hydroxycineoles along with their parent compound were detectable in the blood plasma of the volunteer under study after liberation from their glucuronides with 2-hydroxycineole being the predominant metabolite at a maximum plasma concentration of 86 nmol/L followed by the 9-hydroxy isomer at a maximum plasma concentration of 33 nmol/L. The parent compound 1,8-cineole showed a low maximum plasma concentration of 19 nmol/L. In urine, 2-hydroxycineole also showed highest contents followed by its 9-isomer. Summing up the urinary excretion over 10 h, 2-hydroxycineole, the 9-isomer, the 3-isomer and the 7-isomer accounted for 20.9, 17.2, 10.6 and 3.8% of the cineole dose, respectively.

The metabolism of the potent carcinogen estragole was investigated in humans after consumption of fennel tea by analyses of its metabolites in blood plasma and urine. Stable isotope dilution assays based on LC-MS/MS detection revealed that 1'-hydroxylation of estragole happened very fast as the concentration of conjugated 1'-hydroxyestragole in urine peaked after 1.5 h, whereas it was no longer detectable after 10 h. Besides the formation of less than 0.41% conjugated 1'-hydroxyestragole of the estragole dose administered, the further metabolite p-allylphenol was generated from estragole in a higher percentage (17%). Both metabolites were also detected in blood plasma in less than 0.75-2.5 h after consumption of fennel tea. In contrast to this, no estragole was present in these samples above its detection limit. From the results, it can be concluded that an excess of the major fennel odorant trans-anethole principally does not interfere with estragole metabolism, whereas influences on the quantitative composition of metabolites cannot be excluded. The presence of a sulfuric acid conjugate of estragole could not be confirmed, possibly due to its high reactivity and lability.

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