Mass spectrometric identification of urinary and plasma metabolites of 9-hydroxy-19,20-bis-nor-prostanoic acid (rosaprostol).

•9-Hydroxy-19,20-bis-nor-prostanoic acid (Rosaprostol) is an antiulcer compound with antisecretory and cytoprotective action. We studied the metabolites of Rosaprostol found in human plasma and in human and rat urine.•Sixteen different metabolites were tentatively identified on the basis of their mass spectra. Two presumed metabolites were synthesized. To clarify the identities of some of them, deuterated Rosaprostol was administered to rats and mass spectra of the deuterated and protonated metabolites were examined.•Rosaprostal is metabolized following three metabolic pathways leading, combined, to oxidized compounds with a lower number of carbons than the parent drug.