Studies in detoxication: 14. The metabolism of veratraldehyde and veratric acid in the rabbit.

The work described in this paper had two objectives. First, it was hoped that a more stable aroylglucuronide (veratroylglucuronide and anisoylglucuronide) than benzoylglucuronide (Quick, 1926; Pryde & Williams, 1933; Goebel, 1938) could be prepared for constitutional studies. In the second place, it was considered possible' that a comparative study of the metabolism of veratric acid (3:4-dimethoxybenzoic acid) and its aldehyde might throw light on themode of oxidation of aromatic aldehydes to the corresponding acids, since early experiments had shown that the yields of crystalline veratroylglucuronide from rabbit urine were consistently higher when veratraldehyde was fed than when veratric acid was fed. No previous study on the fate of veratraldehyde or ofanisaldehyde has been recorded. Marfori (1897) states that veratric acid is excreted unchanged; our work will show this statement is only partly true. METHODS AND RESULTS