Pharmacokinetics of gallic acid and protocatechuic acid in humans after dosing with Relinqing (RLQ) and the potential for RLQ-perpetrated drug–drug interactions on organic anion transporter (OAT) 1/3

Abstract

Context

Relinqing granules (RLQ) are being used alone or in combination with antibacterial drugs to treat urological disorders.

Objective

This study investigates the pharmacokinetics of RLQ in humans and the potential for RLQ-perpetrated interactions on transporters.

Materials and methods

Twelve healthy subjects (six women and six men) participated to compare single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of RLQ. In the single-dose study, all 12 subjects received 8 g of RLQ orally. After a 7-d washout period, the subjects received 8 g of RLQ for seven consecutive days (t.i.d.) and then a single dose. Gallic acid (GA) and protocatechuic acid (PCA) in plasma and urine samples were analysed using LC-MS/MS. The transfected cells were used to study the inhibitory effect of GA (50–5000 μg/L) and PCA (10–1000 μg/L) on transporters OAT1, OAT3, OCT2, OATP1B1, P-gp and BCRP.

Results

GA and PCA were absorbed into the blood within 1 h after administration and rapidly eliminated with a half-life of less than 2 h. The mean peak concentrations of GA (102 and 176 μg/L) and PCA (4.54 and 7.58 μg/L) were lower in males than females, respectively. The 24 h urine recovery rates of GA and PCA were about 10% and 5%, respectively. The steady-state was reached in 7 d without accumulation. GA was a potent inhibitor of OAT1 (IC₅₀ = 3.73 μM) and OAT3 (IC₅₀ = 29.41 μM), but not OCT2, OATP1B1, P-gp or BCRP.

Discussion and conclusions

GA and PCA are recommended as PK-markers in RLQ-related pharmacokinetic and drug interaction studies. We should pay more attention to the potential for RLQ-perpetrated interactions on transporters.

Keywords:

• Herb-drug interactions (HDI)
• pharmacokinetic markers (PK-markers)
• organic anion transporter
• Chinese patent medicine

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin under Grant number [18JCQNJC83800] and the National Science and Technology Major Project of China under Grant number [2018ZX09734-002].