The metabolism of oxamniquine - a new schistosomicide.

The metabolism of oxamniquine, 6-hydroxymethyl-7-nitro-2-isopropylaminomethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, has been studied in the mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit, rhesus monkey, dog and man. Urinary excretion is a major route of elimination in man. The compound is converted to two metabolites, the major one arising from oxidation of the 6-hydroxymethyl group to a carboxyl group and the other by oxidation of the side chain to give the 2-carboxylic acid. There is a species at the dose levels used since both acidic metabolites were found in appreciable quantities only in the urine of mouse, rabbit, hamster and dog. The 2-carboxylic acid was not found in the urine of rhesus monkey and rat and occurred in only trace amounts in human urine.