1. Rabbits dosed orally with β-ionone excreted in the urine unchanged β-ionone, 3-oxo-β-ionone, 3-oxo-β-ionol, dihydro-3-oxo-β-ionol and 3-hydroxy-β-ionol. 2. Excretion products were isolated as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives (β-ionone, 3-oxo-β-ionone, 3-oxo-β-ionol and dihydro-3-oxo-β-ionol) and as p-nitrobenzoate derivatives (3-oxo-β-ionol, dihydro-3-oxo-β-ionol and 3-hydroxy-β-ionol), which were characterized and identified by comparison with the synthetic authentic compounds. 3. The glucuronides of 3-oxo-β-ionol and dihydro-3-oxo-β-ionol were also detected in the urine. The latter compound was isolated as free glucuronide, sodium salt and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone.
