Danthron infused intravenously in rats shows a complex dose-dependent
pattern of metabolism and excretion. The metabolites, particularly the
more polar ones, are in general excreted predominantly in bile, to a
lesser extent in urine. They can be separated as metabolite groups acc
ording to polarity and molecular size on a Sephadex LH 20 column. The
present paper describes a further study within a bile-derived metaboli
te group, which proved to be particularly heterogeneous. It contained
more than a dozen metabolites, which were conjugates of four different
aglycons including the parent danthron. H-1 NMR spectral data for dan
thron monosulfate and monoglucuronide are also presented.