Benzoic Acid Conjugation in Periplaneta Americana

Abstract

1) The metabolism and distribution of benzoic acid was investigated in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, dosed with 0.3 mg of sodium benzoate. Extracts from the body and excreta contained mainly the free acid, with up to 9% of the glycine conjugate and perhapes a similar amount of unidentified alkali labile metabolite(s). Larger amounts of the glycine conjugate were found in the body than in the excreta. 2) The capacity of isolated organs to synthesise hippuric acid from sodium benzoate was studied in. vitro. The gut and the fat body synthesised hippurate. A greater rate of synthesis was observed in the gut. 3) The gut and fat body were able to degrade the glycine conjugate in vitro. The greatest hydrolytic activity was observed in the hindgut fraction. 4) The significance of these results is discussed in terms of a model of the distribution and elimination of benzoic acid in insects.