OBJECTIVEDevelop an LC-MS method to determine evodiamine and rutaecarpine in rats plasma simultaneously. The method was employed to investigate pharmacokinetics of evodiamine and rutaecarpine.

METHODBlood samples were collected in different time after oral administrated with the extracts of Euodiae Fructus, the plasma concentration of evodiamine and rutaecarpine was determined by LC-MS, pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by WinNonlin 5.1 software.

RESULTThe linear ranges of evodiamine and rutaecarpine were 0.5-100 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.995 9), 1-200 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 3) respectively. The average recovery were exceeded 76% (n = 5), the precision of inner-day and inter-day were less than 15%. The pharmacokinetics parameters AUC, t1/2, CL _F of evodiamine were: (2 215.24 +/- 414.49), (4 230.62 +/- 753.77), (13 219.21 +/- 3 740.95) min x ng(-1) x mL(-1); (146.57 +/- 38.38), (114.38 +/- 14.65), (163.37 +/- 8.83) min; (184 607.29 +/- 32 502.21), (192 878.22 +/- 31 897.37), (19 3224.63 +/- 62 278.74) mL x min(-1). The pharmacokinetics parameters AUC, t1/2, CL_F of rutaecarpine were (2 283.53 +/- 298.51), (4 424.84 +/- 276.95), (14 239.93 +/- 3648.27) min x ng(-1) x mL(-1); (167.10 +/- 15.82), (131.58 +/- 20.07), (144.41 +/- 13.65) min; (1 177 340.54 +/- 2 4942.21), (181 262.92 +/- 11 162.22), (177 508.10 +/- 52 611.80) mL x min(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe method described in this report has high sensitivity and selectivity, and was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of evodiamine and rutaecarpine. The kinetic process of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in rats in vivo were all yielded to be one-compartment model.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Evodia ; Indole Alkaloids ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; Quinazolines ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

In this study, the variation of pharmacokinetics behavior of raltitrexed (RTX) in rats after repeatedly injected with Huangqi injection was investigated. Twelve SD rats were divided into two groups: the multidose group and the RTX group. Rats in multidose group were iv. injected with Huangqi injection (dose of 1.575 mL x kg(-1)) everyday at 8 am for a week, and had free accesses for food and water. The rats were fasted for food but not water since 8 h before the eighth day. At the eighth morning, firstly, rats were injected with Huangqi injection (dose of 1.575 mL x kg(-1)), and 5 min later, were injected with RTX (dose of 0.467 mg x kg(-1)); rats in RTX group were not disposed in the previous seven days, also had free accesses for food and water, and were iv. injected with raltitrexed at the same time as Multidose group at the eighth day morning. Rat plasma was collected at different time and processed with methanol to precipitate the protein before HPLC assays. The pharmacokinetics parameters for two groups were calculated by software 3P97. Through the observation of drug concentration in plasma and time curve, we found that at almost every time point the concentration of RTX in plasma in multidose group was lower than the RTX group. When comparing the pharmacokinetics parameters between the multidose group and the RTX group, the average of AUC(0-t) and half-life(t1/2) of multidose group were decreased from 56 080 microg x min x L(-1) and 15.07 min to 35 834 microg x min x L(-1) and 8.95 min, respectively, while the clearance (CL) was increased from 0.51 to 0.83 mL x h(-1). Therefore, it could be deduced that repeatedly injected with AR injection may influence the renal excretion and glycometabolism of RTX, thus change pharmacokinetics behavior of raltitrexed in rats plasma. This result may give us a hint to prudantly manage the drug combination of RTX and Huangqi injection.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Injections ; Male ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiophenes ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of anagrelide in essential thrombocythemia (ET).

METHODSPatients who diagnosed as ET according to the World Health Organization classification were enrolled. Each patient was assigned to take anagrelide hydrochloride capsule or hydroxyurea tablet by random 1∶1 ratio. Dose of anagrelide started at 2 mg/d, then increased gradually and the maximum dose was 10 mg/d until the platelet counts dropped to (100-400) × 10⁹/L, one month later gradually reduced to maintain dose. The dose of hydroxyurea was 1000 mg/d at beginning, then increased gradually, when platelet counts dropped to (100-400)×10⁹/L and kept for one month, reduced to maintain dose as 10 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹. The observation period was 12 weeks.

RESULTSA total of 222 patients were enrolled in seventeen centers (including 113 patients treated with anagrelide and 109 with hydroxyurea). Therapy efficacy can be evaluated in 198 patients (including 97 patients administered with anagrelide and 101 with hydroxyurea). At 12th weeks of therapy, the hematologic remission rate was 87.63% (85/97) in anagrelide group and 88.12% (89/107) in hydroxyurea group, the differences between the two groups were not significant (P=0.173). Treatment with anagrelide lowered the platelet counts by a median of 393 (362-1 339) × 10⁹/L from a median of 827 (562-1657) × 109/L at the beginning of the observation to 400(127-1130)×10⁹/L after 12 weeks (P<0.001), which were similar to the treatment result of hydroxyurea by a median drop of 398 (597-1846)× 10⁹/L (P=0.982). The median time to achieving response of anagrelide group was 7 (3-14) days, superior to that of hydroxyurea for 21 (14-28) significantly (P=0.003). Frequency of anagrelide related adverse events was 65.49 % (74/113), including cardiopalmus (36.28% ), headache (21.24% ), fatigue (14.16% ) and dizzy (11.50% ).

CONCLUSIONAnagrelide was effective in patients with ET which had similar hematologic remission rate to hydroxyurea and could take effect more quickly than hydroxyurea. Incidence of adverse events was undifferentiated between anagrelide and hydroxyurea, but anagrelide treatment had tolerable adverse effects and no hematologic toxicity.

Humans ; Hydroxyurea ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Platelet Count ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Thrombocythemia, Essential ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regularity of Yulian Cataplasm in vitro release and transdermal behaviors.

METHODImproved Franz diffusion devices was used with four index ingredients as evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine that were determined by HPLC in one mobile phase.

RESULTThe release rates of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine were 0.0239, 0.0156, 0.0725, 0.8191 mg x cm(-2) x h(-1/2), respectivley. The transdermal rates of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, palmatine and berberine were 1.256, 1.0302, 2.8029, 20.919 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe releasing process of all index is in accordance with Higuchi equation and the transdermal proccess is in accordance with zero-level equation.

Animals ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Berberine Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Indole Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

To study pharmacokinetics behavior of Raltitrexed (RTX) after single injected with Radix Astragali (RA); twelve rats were divided into two groups: RTX (administrated iv. of raltitrexed); RTX with RA (administrated iv. of raltitrexed after single iv. dose of 3. 15 g x kg(-1)), rat plasma was collected and processed before HPLC assays; The established HPLC method was rapid, specific and precise. Between RTX and RTX with RA groups, half-life (t1/2), AUC(0-t) and CL showed no statistically significant differences; RA co-administration did not affect the pharmacokinetics of raltitrexed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiophenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

More effective treatments in first, second, and third-line of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) enable patients to live longer, with a better quality of life (QOL). Especially epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) contributed to this improvement. Gefitinib was compared with Docetaxel in four randomized trials, i.e., SIGN, Japanese V-1532, Korean ISTANA, and INTEREST in second or third-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC. In all the trials, and also by meta-analysis of 2,257 patients in these trials, Gefitinib was found non-inferior or superior to Docetaxel, with less toxicity, convenient oral administration, and better QOL. Detailed results are presented in the review article. Knowing that every line of treatment we may lose about 50% of patients for further treatment, it is very important to offer each patient the best option for every line of treatment. Gefitinib has a favorable benefit-risk profile compared with Docetaxel in this patient population.
Administration, Oral ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Humans ; Oligosaccharides ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Quality of Life ; Quinazolines ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Taxoids

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the potential pharmacokinetic interactions of the anticancer agent gefitinib (Iressa®) and the oriental medications Guipi Decoction (, GPD, Guibi-tang in Korean) and Bawu Decoction (, BWD, Palmul-tang in Korean).

METHODSMethylcellulose (MC, control), GPD (1,200 mg/kg), or BWD (6,000 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats either as a single dose or multiple doses prior to gefitinib administration. To examine the effects of a single dose of the herbal medicines, gefitinib (10 mg/kg) was orally administered after 5 min or 1 h of MC or the herbal medicine pretreatments. To examine the effects of the multiple doses of the herbal medicines, gefitinib (10 mg/kg) was orally administered following 7 consecutive days of the administration of MC or each herbal medicine. The plasma concentrations of gefitinib were determined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. The plasma concentration-time profiles of gefitinib were analyzed with a noncompartmental analysis.

RESULTSGefitinib was rapidly absorbed and showed a monoexponential decline with an elimination half-life of 3.7-4.1 h. The pharmacokinetics of gefitinib was not affected by GPD pretreatment. However, a significantly lower maximum plasma concentration (C, P<0.05) and area under the curve (P<0.05), and a delayed time to reach C (T, P<0.01) were observed in both single- and multipledose BWD-pretreated rats compared with the control rats.

CONCLUSIONSBWD and not GPD might delay and interfere with gefitinib absorption. Further evaluations of the clinical significance of these findings are needed.

Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: Afatinib, a second-generation irreversible epidermal growth factor inhibitor receptor for the development of non-small cell lung cancer and secondary drug resistance, has low bioavailability and adverse reactions due to current oral administration. The aim of this study was to prepare a novel drug delivery system, afatinib liposome, and to establish a method for the determination of encapsulation efficiency. METHODS: Four different preparation methods were used to prepare afatinib liposomes, and the optimal preparation process was determined by comparing the encapsulation efficiency and particle size. RESULTS: It has been verified that sephadex microcolumn centrifugation can be used to purify afatinib liposomes, and UV spectrophotometry can be employed to determine the entrapment efficiency of liposomes. Among different preparation methods, the encapsulation efficiency of afatinib liposomes prepared by ammonium sulfate gradient method was 90.73% and the average particle size was 108.6 nm. CONCLUSIONS Ammonium sulfate gradient method can be successfully applied to prepare afatinib liposomes that performed higher encapsulation efficiency and smaller particle size. The UV spectrophotometry employed to determine the liposome encapsulation efficiency was easy operation and with high accuracy.
Afatinib ; Capsules ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Liposomes ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo prepare long-circulating liposome (LCL) for sustained release of nolatrexed dihydrochloride and evaluate the effect of this preparation against the growth of hepatocarcinoma cells in mice.

METHODSThe long-circulating nolatrexed dihydrochloride liposome was prepared by film dispersion-extrusion combined with ammonium sulphate gradient method. Amphipathic polyethylene glycol-distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-DSPE) was added to modify the property of the liposome membrane. The drug entrapment efficiency of the nolatrexed dihydrochloride-containing liposome was determined using UV detector with Sephadex G50. Electron microscopy and laser particle analyzer were employed to determine the size of the nolatrexed dihydrochloride liposome. For in vivo evaluation of the effect of the liposomal preparation, H22 mouse hepatoma carcinoma cells were transplanted subcutaneouly in mice in the axillary region of the right hind limb to induce growth of solid tumors, which were evaluated for tumor weight inhibition rate and tumor volume changes after administration of the LCL preparations.

RESULTSThe mean diameter of the long-circulating nolatrexed dihydrochloride liposomes was 109 nm, with an entrapment efficiency of 68.5%. In vivo antitumor experiment showed that both the common liposomal and LCL preparations of nolatrexed dihydrochloride produced antitumor effect in vivo, and the latter had weaker antitumor effect than free and common liposomal preparation of nolatrexed dihydrochloride, but in the long term, the LCL preparation showed stronger antitumor effect with a tumor weight inhibition rate of 41.68%.

CONCLUSIONLCL allows sustained release of nolatrexed dihydrochloride in vivo, and may effectively lengthen the relatively short half life of this drug after administration.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use

Benzamides ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors