Disposition of the plant phenol ellagic acid in the mouse following oral administration by gavage.

1. The absorption, distribution and elimination of 3H-ellagic acid, a putative antimutagen and anticarcinogen, was studied in male Swiss-Webster mice following oral administration. 2. Levels of 3H-ellagic acid were highest in blood 30 min after administration, in urine and bile 120 min post-administration, and in liver, lung and kidney 15 min after administration [corrected]. 3. Free ellagic acid and its conjugates were present in urine, bile and blood. H.p.l.c. analysis of the organic solvent extracts of urine, bile and blood indicated the presence of four metabolites in urine, two in blood and one in bile. 4. Sulphate ester, glucuronide and glutathione conjugates of ellagic acid were present in urine, bile and blood. H.p.l.c. analysis of organic solvent extracts after aryl sulphatase or beta-glucuronidase treatment showed that ellagic acid was the major component present. 5. Absorption of 3H-ellagic acid occurred mostly within two hours after oral administration. Levels in blood, bile and tissues were low and almost all of the absorbed dose was excreted in urine. 6. More than 53% of the orally administered 3H-ellagic acid remained in the gastrointestinal tract at 24 h. Approximately 19% was excreted in faeces and 22% in urine at 24 h. 7. Of the 24 h faecal radioactivity 93% was extractable into organic solvents and more than 80% of this fraction was free ellagic acid. Only one metabolite was found in faeces.