Previous reports suggest that intestinal bacteria play an important role in the metabolism of sodium cyclamate in animal bodies. Furthermore, the bacteria capable of assimilating sodium cyclamate have been separated from the feces of guinea pigs, and some of their characteristics have been examined, including some enzymatic experiments with cell-free extracts of the bacteria.
In this report, it was elucidated that the bacteria, reported previously, were able to metabolize sodium cyclamate to cyclohexylamine even in the presence of a large amount of other nutrients or cecal contents of guinea pigs.
Additionally, when living cells of the bacteria were orally administered to guinea pigs, together with 1% sodium cyclamate solution as drinking water, cyclohexylamine was excreted in the urine earlier than in the control.
Absorption of cyclohexylamine through the membrane of the intestine and excretion in the urine were demonstrated in another experiment by direct injection of cyclohexylamine into the cecum of guinea pigs.
These observations are further evidences to support the actual participation of intestinal bacteria in the metabolism of sodium cyclamate.
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