Ambrein: a minor, but common constituent of mammalian faeces?

Rowland, Steven J.; Sutton, Paul A.; von der Lühe, Barbara; Volkman, John K.; Vane, Christopher H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-3640; Ingram, Simon N.; Dunn, Charlotte; Claridge, Diane. 2021 Ambrein: a minor, but common constituent of mammalian faeces? Natural Product Research, 35 (22). 4843-4848. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2020.1731746

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2020.1731746

Abstract/Summary

For nearly 200 years, the only natural source of the alcohol ambrein has been coproliths produced in about 1% of sperm whales and in related jetsam. However, the finding of ambrein in adipocere/faeces of human corpses, led us to hypothesise that ambrein might occur in the faeces of other mammals. Herein, we used a recently developed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method, with suitable derivatisation of the hindered hydroxy group of ambrein, to screen a number of extracts of mammalian faeces. Minor proportions of ambrein were detected in digested human sewage sludge and in the dung of elephant, domestic cattle, giraffe and buffalo. Whether ambrein formation in the terrestrial species is associated with coprolith formation, is unknown, but solid deposits known as enteroliths and fecaliths occur in humans and some domestic animals.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2020.1731746
ISSN:	1478-6419
Date made live:	17 Apr 2020 12:21 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527502

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2020.1731746

ISSN:

1478-6419

Date made live:

17 Apr 2020 12:21 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527502