Among numerous groups of naturally occurring compounds examined so far, volatile monoterpenes have long been used as fragrances and flavouring agents. (ϩ)-Fenchone, a bicyclic monoterpene, is widely distributed in plants and found in essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare.1) This component has camphoraceous fragrance. (ϩ)-Fenchone is used as a food flavour and in perfumes. Although, there are report that (ϩ)-fenchone have toxic.2) P450 enzymes are shown to detoxify and/or toxify these compounds to metabolites more polar and sometimes more reactive metabolites.
3-7)There is no literature on the absorption, excretion of the (ϩ)-fenchone in human body. Therefore, it is interesting to examine how (ϩ)-fenchone is metabolized by P450 in human liver microsomes.There are several reports on the biotransformation of (ϩ)-fenchone by microorganisms, insect and mammals, e.g. Baeyer-Villiger type oxidation by Corynebacterium sp. 5-exo and 6-exo hydroxylation by Absidia orchidis, 8) 5-exo, 6-exo and H-7 glucosylation by cultured plant cells of Eucalyptus perriniana, 9) 5-endo, 6-endo hydroxylation by Aspergillus niger, 10) 5-exo, 6-exo, 6-endo, 10-hydroxylation by Spodoptera litura 11) and hydroxylation of methyl groups by rabbits. 12) However, there is no report on the biotransformation of (ϩ)-fenchone by the human body.Our previous studies have demonstrated that several terpenes, 1,4-cineole, 1,8-cineole, (ϩ)-and (Ϫ)-limonenes and (Ϫ)-verbenone are catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes to their respective oxidation products in human liver microsomes. [13][14][15][16] The metabolite from monoterpene esthers have determined to be oxidized at the 2-position of the molecules (1,4-cineole and 1,8-cineole) by human CYP3A4 enzyme. 13,14) Limonene enatiomers are metabolized to their respective carveols and perillyl alcohols in human liver. 13,14) (Ϫ)-Verbenone has found to be oxidized at the 10-position of the molecules by human CYP2A6 and 2B6. 16) In this study, we examined oxidations of (ϩ)-fenchone by P450 enzymes in liver microsomes prepared from different human samples. The metabolites thus formed were analyzed on GC-MS. To determine which P450s are the major enzymes in the oxidations of (ϩ)-fenchone, we used specific P450 inhibitors and antibodies raised against purified human liver P450 enzymes. Catalytic rates with eleven forms of human P450 enzymes expressed in Trichoplusia ni cells in the oxidations of (ϩ)-fenchone are also reported.
MATERIALS AND METHODSChemicals (ϩ)-Menthofuran, thioTEPA, NADP, glucose 6-phosphate, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.). (ϩ)-Fenchone (purity, Ͼ99%) was purchased from Fluka. 6-exo-Hydroxyfenchone, 6-endo-hydroxyfenchone and 10-hydroxyfenchone (purity, Ͼ99%) were isolated with Spodoptera litura.11) Other reagents and chemicals used in this study were obtained from sources as described previously or were of the highest quality commercially available. (3H, s, H-9), 1.16 (3H, s, H-10), 1.62 (1H, dd, Jϭ1.7, 11.0 Hz, H B -7; nearly C...