Fate of dipropyl sulphone in rat

Abstract

1. Dipropyl [35S]-sulphone was administered by gavage (4.24 mmol/4 ml/kg body weight) to the adult male Wistar rat following an overnight fast. 2. Urine was the major route of excretion (83%) with more radioactivity appearing during the second day (47%) than the first (28%). Only small amounts were found in the faeces (10%). Biliary excretion played an important role with substantial amounts of the dose (33%) passing through the bile duct during 0-48 h. A near total recovery was achieved suggesting that only small amounts (2%) may have been lost as volatile components. 3. Metabolism was limited, the majority (> or = 98%) of the sulphone being recovered unchanged. Oxidation of the sulphur with the formation of inorganic sulphate was the only pathway observed.

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)

“…Monosulfides are expected to undergo oxidation, mainly to the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone. Sulfoxides and sulfones are physiologically stable and are excreted unchanged in the urine (McBain & Menn, 1969;Nickson & Mitchell, 1994;Nickson et al, 1995;Nnane & Damani, 1995).…”

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) related to Flavouring Group Evaluation 13 (FGE.13); Furfuryl and furan derivatives with and without additional side-chain substituents

“…Substances which contain free thiol groups may also react with endogenous thiol-containing compounds such as proteins or glutathione to form mixed disulfides or, alternatively, with glucuronic acid to give thio-beta-D-glucuronide conjugates (Dutton & Illing, 1972;Maiorino et al, 1989;McBain & Menn, 1969;Richardson et al, 1991). Sulfoxides and sulfones are physiologically stable and are excreted unchanged in the urine (Nickson & Mitchell, 1994;Nickson et al, 1995;McBain & Menn, 1969).…”

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 08, Revision 4 (FGE.08Rev4): Aliphatic and alicyclic mono-, di-, tri-, and polysulphides with or without additional oxygenated functional groups from chemical groups 20 and 30

“…The metabolism of dipropyl sulphide (as supporting for compounds in subgroups I), dipropyl sulphoxide, and dipropyl sulphone has been studied extensively in rats (Nickson and Mitchell, 1994;Nickson et al, 1995). Dipropyl sulphide is metabolised mainly to the corresponding sulphoxide.…”