A sensitive LC-MS/MS method to determine ginkgolide B in human plasma and urine: application in a pharmacokinetics and excretion study of healthy Chinese subjects

Abstract

1. Ginkgolide B (GB), the most active of the ginkgolides, has been developed as a new drug for the treatment of vascular insufficiency; however, the pharmacokinetics of GB remain unclear. Here, we investigated the pharmacokinetics and urine excretion properties of GB in healthy Chinese subjects administered single- and multiple-dose injectable GB based on a new LC-MS/MS method.

2. GB pharmacokinetics were found to be dose-dependent from 20 to 60 mg. GB reached a steady state by day 6 with once-daily dosing at 40 mg. Systemic exposure to GB, as characterised by AUC_0–∞, indicated accumulation following repeated once-daily dosing for seven consecutive days. The mean urinary cumulative excretion rate of GB in response to 20, 40, and 60 mg GB was 41.9 ± 18.5%, 32.9 ± 12.2%, and 43.9 ± 8.5%, respectively.

3. Dose-proportional pharmacokinetics of GB were observed after intravenous administration in healthy subjects. A gradual reduction in the volume of distribution and slight change in mean resistance time led us to conjecture the limited accumulation of GB based on distribution equilibrium in vivo.

4. This comprehensive study of the clinical pharmacokinetics of GB will provide useful information for its application and further development.

Keywords:

• Ginkgolide B
• LC-MS/MS
• human plasma and urine
• pharmacokinetics
• excretion

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Hefei Tuofeng Bioengineering Co., Ltd. for providing the standard materials. We also thank the subjects who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.