Microbial metabolism of loganin by intestinal bacteria and identification of new metabolites in rat.

Loganin is an important constituent of the traditional Chinese medicine Fructus Corni, with several bioactivities. Microbial metabolism of loganin by intestinal bacteria was investigated. Two metabolites (log-1 and log-2) were isolated from anaerobic culture and their structures were identified by means of their ESI-MS, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and 2D-NMR spectral data. Log-1 was an aglycone of loganin and log-2 was proved to be a new compound. In vivo metabolites of loganin were detected in rat urine, bile and feces after oral administration of loganin and the structures were proved to be identical with that of the microbial metabolites log-1 and log-2 by HPLC-PDA analysis and comparison with the reference standards. Therefore we can prepare metabolites by anaerobic culture with intestinal bacteria.