UPLC-MS/MS study of the effect of dandelion root extract on the plasma levels of the selected irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitors dasatinib, imatinib and nilotinib in rats: Potential risk of pharmacokinetic interactions

Pretreatment and analysis techniques development of TKIs in biological samples for pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have emerged as the first-line small molecule drugs in many cancer therapies, exerting their effects by impeding aberrant cell growth and proliferation through the modulation of tyrosine kinase-mediated signaling pathways. However, there exists a substantial inter-individual variability in the concentrations of certain TKIs and their metabolites, which may render patients with compromised immune function susceptible to diverse infections despite receiving theoretically efficacious anticancer treatments, alongside other potential side effects or adverse reactions. Therefore, an urgent need exists for an up-to-date review concerning the biological matrices relevant to bioanalysis and the sampling methods, clinical pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic drug monitoring of different TKIs. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in pretreatment methods, such as protein precipitation (PPT), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), micro-SPE (μ-SPE), magnetic SPE (MSPE), and vortex-assisted dispersive SPE (VA-DSPE) achieved since 2017. It also highlights the latest analysis techniques such as newly developed high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods, capillary electrophoresis (CE), gas chromatography (GC), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) procedures, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays as well as novel nanoprobes-based biosensing techniques. In addition, a comparison is made between the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches while presenting critical challenges and prospects in pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Imatinib and Metformin in Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Imatinib is primarily transported into the liver by organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3), and novel organic cation transporter 2 (OCTN2), which is the first step in the metabolic and elimination of imatinib. Patients taking imatinib may concurrently take metformin, a substrate for OCT1. Drug-drug interactions (DDI) may occur between imatinib and metformin, affecting the clinical efficacy of imatinib. This experiment aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic effects of metformin on imatinib and its active metabolism of N-desmethyl imatinib in rats.

METHODS

Twenty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into control and experimental groups (10 rats per group). The control group was orally administered imatinib (30 mg/kg) for 14 days, and the experimental group was orally co-administered imatinib (30 mg/kg) and metformin (200 mg/kg) for 14 days. The plasma concentrations of imatinib and N-desmethyl imatinib in rats were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS2.0 software.

RESULTS

After single-dose co-administration of imatinib and metformin on day 1, the AUC0-24 (area under the plasma concentration-time curve) and Cmax (maximum concentration) of imatinib and the MRT (mean residence time) and Cmax of N-desmethyl imatinib in the experimental group were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). After multiple-dose co-administration of imatinib and metformin for 14 days, the AUC0-24 and Cmax of both imatinib and N-desmethyl imatinib were significantly decreased in the experimental group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

With both single and multiple co-administration doses, metformin significantly changed the pharmacokinetic parameters of imatinib and N-desmethyl imatinib. The results suggest that care should be taken when metformin and imatinib are co-administered.

Pharmacokinetics of Dasatinib in Rats: a Potential Food-Drug Interaction with Naringenin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dasatinib, a multitarget inhibitor of Bcr-Abl and Src family kinases, has been licensed for the treatment of Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. Many citrus-based foods include the flavonoid naringenin, which is commonly available. Dasatinib is a Cyp3a4, P-gp, and Bcrp1 substrate, which makes it sensitive to potential food-drug interactions. The concurrent use of naringenin may change the pharmacokinetics of dasatinib, which could result in adverse effects and toxicity. The present investigation examined the impact of naringenin on the pharmacokinetics interactions of DAS and proposes a possible interaction mechanism in Wistar rats.

METHODS

Rats were provided with a single oral dose of dasatinib (25 mg/kg) with or without naringenin pretreatment (150 mg/kg p.o. daily for 7 days, n = 6 in each group). Dasatinib was quantified in plasma by UHPLC MS/MS assay. Noncompartmental analysis was used to compute the pharmacokinetic parameters, and immunoblot was used to assess the protein expression in the hepatic and intestinal tissues.

RESULTS

Following 7 days of naringenin pretreatment, the plasma mean concentration of dasatinib was enhanced compared with without pretreatment. In rats that were pretreated with naringenin, the pharmacokinetics of the orally administered dasatinib (25 mg/kg) was shown to be significantly different from that of dasatinib given without pretreatment (p < 0.05). There was a significant enhancement in pharmacokinetic parameters elimination half-life (T1/2), time to maximum concentration ( Tmax), maximum concentration )Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-t), area under the moment curve (AUMC0-∞), and mean residence time (MRT) by 28.41%, 50%, 103.54%, 72.64%, 115.08%, and 15.19%, respectively (p < 0.05) and suppression in elimination rate constant (Kel), volume of distribution (Vd), and clearance (CL) by 21.09%, 31.13%, and 46.25%, respectively, in comparison with dasatinib alone group (p < 0.05). The enhancement in dasatinib bioavailability and systemic exposure resulted from the significant inhibition of Cyp3a2, Mdr1/P-gp, and Bcrp1 expression and suppression of the dasatinib hepatic and intestinal metabolism, which enhanced the rate of dasatinib absorption and decreased its elimination.

CONCLUSION

Concurrent use of naringenin-containing supplements, herbs, or foods with dasatinib may cause serious and potentially life-threatening drug interactions. Further studies are necessary to determine the clinical significance of these findings.

Herb-drug interaction: Effect of sinapic acid on the pharmacokinetics of dasatinib in rats

Dasatinib (DAS) is a narrow therapeutic index drug and novel oral multitarget inhibitor of tyrosine kinase and approved for the first-line therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome (Ph + ) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). DAS, a known potent substrate of cytochrome (CYP) 3A, P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and is subject to auto-induction. The dietary supplementation of sinapic acid (SA) or concomitant use of SA containing herbs/foods may alter the pharmacokinetics as well as pharmacodynamics of DAS, that may probably lead to potential interactions. Protein expression in rat hepatic and intestinal tissues, as well as the in vivo pharmacokinetics of DAS and the roles of CYP3 A2 and drug transporters Pgp-MDR1 and BCPR/ABCG2, suggested a likely interaction mechanism. The single dose of DAS (25 mg/kg) was given orally to rats with or without SA pretreatment (20 mg/kg p.o. per day for 7 days, n = 6). The plasma concentration of DAS was estimated by using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The in vivo pharmacokinetics and protein expression study demonstrate that SA pretreatment has potential to alter the DAS pharmacokinetics. The increase in Cmax, AUC and AUMC proposes increase in bioavailability and rate of absorption via modulation of CYP3 A2, PgP-MDR1 and BCPR/ABCG2 protein expression. Thus, the concomitant use of SA alone or with DAS may cause serious life-threatening drug interactions.

Effects of Apigenin on Pharmacokinetics of Dasatinib and Probable Interaction Mechanism

Dasatinib (DAS), a narrow-therapeutic index drug, Bcr-Abl, and Src family kinases multitarget inhibitor have been approved for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Ph-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Apigenin (APG) has a long history of human usage in food, herbs, health supplements, and traditional medicine, and it poses low risk of damage. The concomitant use of APG containing herbs/foods and traditional medicine may alter the pharmacokinetics of DAS, that probably lead to possible herb-drug interactions. The pharmacokinetic interaction of APG pretreatment with DAS in rat plasma following single and co-oral dosing was successfully deliberated using the UPLC-MS/MS method. The in vivo pharmacokinetics and protein expression of CYP3A2, Pgp-MDR1, and BCPR/ABCG2 demonstrate that APG pretreatment has potential to drastically changed the DAS pharmacokinetics where escalation in the Cmax, AUC_(0-t), AUMC_{(0-inf_obs)}, T_1/2, Tmax, and MRT and reduction in Kel, Vd, and Cl significantly in rats pretreated with APG 40 mg/kg, thus escalating systemic bioavailability and increasing the rate of absorption via modulation of CYP3A2, Pgp-MDR1, and BCPR/ABCG2 protein expression. Therefore, the concomitant consumption of APG containing food or traditional herb with DAS may cause serious life-threatening drug interactions and more systematic clinical study on herb-drug interactions is required, as well as adequate regulation in herbal safety and efficacy.

Simple and efficient spectroscopic-based univariate sequential methods for simultaneous quantitative analysis of vandetanib, dasatinib, and sorafenib in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids

Six sequential spectrophotometric-based univariate methods were developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of three novel anticancer drugs vandetanib (VAN), dasatinib (DAS), and sorafenib (SOR) in a mixture, without the requirement for separation. These methods are novel, simple, precise, and accurate. Different steps including zero crossing, ratio-based, and/or derivative spectra were utilized to develop these analytical methods, namely, ratio difference spectrophotometric method, constant center method, successive derivative ratio method, isoabsorptive method, mean centering of the ratio spectra method, and derivative ratio spectrum-zero crossing method. The calibration curve linearity was ranged from 2 to 9, 2-9, and 3-9 μgmL^-1 for VAN, DAS, and SOR, respectively. These established methods were applied for the quantification of the three selected drugs in different biological fluids (spiked human plasma and urine) and pharmaceutical preparations. The aforementioned methods were established for the concurrent estimation of ternary and binary mixtures to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. The results did not statistically differ from the other reported methods, indicating no significant difference in accuracy and precision at p = 0.05.

Updates and advances on pharmacological properties of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz and its potential applications

As a well-recognized dietary and medicinal plant, Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz (TMHM) has been used for making wines, candies, energy drinks, and other functional foods. The TMHM contains a diverse range of active phytoconstituents, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, sesquiterpene lactones, pigments, coumarins and sterols. Recent pharmacological evidence has revealed multiple biological effects of TMHM, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and gastric-protective effects, which contribute to the ameliorative effects of TMHM on inflammation-associated diseases, constipation, gastric disorders, empyrosis, hyperlipidemia, and swollen carbuncles. Although recent advances have highlighted the potential of TMHM to be applied in the clinical practice, food, and nutraceutical industry, the mechanistic understanding and systematic information on TMHM are still scarce. Here, in this timeline review, we have attempted to compile literary documents on pharmacological potential of TMHM concerning its chemical composition, biological activities, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics to promote further researches on clinical and therapeutic potential of TMHM and its food/nutraceutical applications.

Dandelion sterol improves diabetes mellitus-induced renal injury in in vitro and in vivo study

The purpose of our research was to evaluate Dandelion sterol's treatment effects on diabetes mellitus-induced renal injury in in vitro and in vivo study. The rats were divided into five groups as normal control (Ctrl), diabetic nephropathy model (Model), Dandelion sterol low-dose treated (Dan-Low), Dandelion sterol middle-dose treated (Dan-Middle), and Dandelion sterol high-dose treated (Dan-High). Measuring serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations by Elisa assay, evaluate kidney pathology by HE staining, kidney cell apoptosis of TUNEL, TLR4, and NF-κB(p65) proteins expression by IHC assay, and relative gene expressions by RT-qPCR assay. In the following step, using HK-2 treated with high glucose to model DN cell model to discuss the relative mechanisms, evaluate TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations by Elisa assay, evaluate cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, evaluate TLR4 and NF-κB(p65) proteins expression by WB assay, relative gene expression by RT-qPCR assay, and NF-κB(p65) nuclear volume by cellular immunofluorescence. Compared with Ctrl group, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations and apoptosis cell number were significantly increased, TLR4/NF-κB(p65) pathway was significantly stimulated in Model rats and cell groups. With Dan supplement, the diabetic-induced renal injury was significantly improved (p < .05, respectively). By cell experiment, Dan improved cell apoptosis and inflammatory factors via miR-140-5p. Dan improved diabetes mellitus-induced renal injury via regulation of miR-140-5p/TLR4 axis in in vitro and in vivo study.

Development of UPLC-MS/MS Method for Studying the Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Dasatinib and Posaconazole in Rats

Background and Aim

Dasatinib is approved for the treatment of leukaemia worldwide. Triazole agents such as posaconazole may be used for the control of secondary fungal infection with leukaemia. This work aimed to develop a bioanalytical method to study the potential interaction between dasatinib and posaconazole.

Methods

An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established to measure the plasma concentrations of dasatinib and posaconazole in rats simultaneously. Simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile was applied to extract dasatinib and posaconazole in samples. The chromatographic separation of analytes was conducted on an UPLC BEH C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile. Dasatinib and posaconazole were monitored in positive ion mode with the following mass transition pairs: m/z 488.2→401.1 for dasatinib and m/z 701.3→683.4 for posaconazole. The method was successfully applied for pharmacokinetic interaction between dasatinib and posaconazole.

Results

The established method expressed good linearity in 1–1000 ng/mL of dasatinib and 5–5000 ng/mL of posaconazole, with limit of detection was 1 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, respectively. Methodology validations, including accuracy, precision, matrix effect, recovery, and stability, met the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acceptance criteria for bioanalytical method validation. Dasatinib strongly inhibited the clearance of posaconazole in vivo, while posaconazole expressed no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of dasatinib.

Conclusion

Dasatinib alters the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole. Attention should be paid to the unexpected risk of adverse clinical outcomes when posaconazole is co-administered with dasatinib.

Hypoglycemic effect of Taraxacum officinale root extract and its synergism with Radix Astragali extract

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) and Radix Astragali are traditional medicinal and edible plants with high nutritional value. In this study, the synergistic hypoglycemic effect of DRE and Radix Astragali extract (RAE) was evaluated. Our results showed that water extract of dandelion (DRE-w), mainly containing polysaccharides (63.92 ± 1.82 mg/g), total flavonoid (2.57 ± 0.06 mg/g), total phenolic compounds (8.93 ± 0.34 mg/g), and saponins (0.54 ± 0.05 mg/g), exhibited significantly inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. DRE-w and RAE had synergistic hypoglycemic effect; we found that DRE-w and its combination with RAE could relieve the state of insulin resistance in IR-HepG2 cells. The combination could more significantly increase the glucose consumption and intracellular glycogen content, and improve the activity of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase in IR-HepG2 cells. In summary, DRE and its combination with RAE can be developed as the drugs or functional foods for diabetes prevention and treatment.