Catalytic approach to metabolism of atractylenolide III using biomimetic iron-porphyrin complexes.

Atractylenolide III (AT-III) is a pharmacologically effective phytochemical and is known to be oxygenated during systemic metabolism mainly by cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s), iron-containing porphyrin-based oxygenases. In rat plasma samples, the oxygenated metabolite of orally ingested AT-III was determined using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and the oxygenated form of AT-III was maintained at higher levels than the original form of AT-III. catalytic reactions using the iron(iv)-oxo porphyrin π-cation radical complex, [(tmp˙)Fe(O)], demonstrated that both H-atom abstraction and an oxygen rebound mechanism participated in the oxygenation process of AT-III.