Metabolism of cisanilide (Cis-2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide) by rat liver microsomes

Metabolism of phenyl-¹⁴C] and (2,5) pyrrolidine-¹⁴C] cisanilide was investigated in vitro with microsomal preparations from rat liver. Microsomal activity was associated with a mixed-function oxidase system that required O₂ and NADPH and was inhibited by CO. Two major ether-soluble metabolites were isolated. They were identified as primary oxidation products: 2-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide (A) and 4′-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide (B). Minor ether-soluble metabolites were also isolated. Precursor product studies and qualitative thin layer chromatography analysis of pyrrolidine-¹⁴C] and methylated phenyl-¹⁴C] hydrolysis products suggested that these metabolites were secondary oxidation products formed from metabolites A or B. One of these metabolites appeared to be the dihydroxy product 2,4′-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide. Crude microsomal preparations (postmitochondrial supernatant fractions) also formed small quantities (<10%) of polar metabolites. Enzyme hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase (Escherichia coli) indicated that approximately 50% of these metabolites were glucuronides. Similarities and differences in cisanilide oxidation in vivo in plants and in vitro with rat liver microsomal preparations were discussed.