Superior Bioavailability of a Novel Curcumin Formulation in Healthy Humans Under Fasting Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Despite its broad range of biological activities, use of curcumin is limited because of poor bioavailability. Here we report a novel curcumin formulation, Curcuwin Ultra+ (CU+), with superior bioavailability as compared to 95% turmeric extract (TUR 1800). METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, three-treatment, crossover oral bioavailability study was conducted in 24 healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. Subjects received a single dose of CU+ 250 mg, 500 mg and 1900 mg of TUR1800 as per randomization schedule and blood samples were collected at 4 h and 0 h before dosing, and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 h post dose. Total curcuminoids were measured as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and tetrahydrocurcumin using a validated LC-MS/MS method. RESULTS: CU+ achieved a significantly higher (p < 0.05) maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and total systemic exposure (AUC0-6 and AUC0-12) for total curcuminoids as compared to TUR 1800. We observed 101 and 100 times higher Cmax respectively for 250 and 500 mg doses of CU+ as compared to 1900 mg of TUR1800. Similarly, AUC0-6 was 144 and 149 times higher whereas AUC0-12 was 99 and 113 times higher respectively for 250 and 500 mg doses of CU+ as compared to 1900 mg dose of TUR1800. Further, CU+ showed 40% faster absorption (p < 0.05). No safety issues were observed. CONCLUSION: CU+, which is designed for increased absorption and protection of curcuminoids from intestinal degradation, demonstrated superior bioavailability as compared to TUR1800 at considerably smaller doses. Additional clinical studies will help to demonstrate the impact of its increased bioavailability on efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2020/10/028508 (Clinical Trials Registry-India).

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for eltrombopag in 50µL of human plasma: a pharmacokinetic study.

Eltrombopag is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, used in the treatment of thrombocytopenia. This paper describes a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay method for the determination of eltrombopag in human plasma samples using eltrombopag 13C4 as internal standard (IS). Analyte and the IS were extracted from 50µL of human plasma using protein precipitation technique with no drying, evaporation and reconstitution steps. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column by using a mixture of 10mM ammonium formate (pH3) and acetonitrile (10:90, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0mL/min. The linearity of the method was established in the concentration range 50.0-10007ng/mL with r(2)≥0.99. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy results in four validation batches across five concentration levels were well within the acceptance limits. The proposed method was found to be applicable to pharmacokinetic studies.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for cycloserine in 50µL of human plasma: Its pharmacokinetic application.

This paper describes a simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay for the determination of cycloserine in human plasma using carbamazepine as internal standard (IS). Analyte and the IS were extracted from the 50µL of human plasma via protein precipitation using acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C(18) column by using a mixture of acetonitrile-0.5% formic acid buffer (60:40, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8mL/min. The calibration curve obtained was linear (r(2)≥0.99) over the concentration range of 50-15,000ng/mL. Method validation was performed as per FDA guidelines and the results met the acceptance criteria. A run time of 2.5min for each sample made it possible to analyze more number of samples in short time, thus increasing the productivity. The proposed method was found to be applicable to pharmacokinetic studies.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for duloxetine in human plasma: Its pharmacokinetic application.

This paper describes a simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for the determination of duloxetine in human plasma. A duloxetine stable labeled isotope (duloxetine d5) was used as an internal standard. Analyte and the internal standard were extracted from 100 µL of human plasma via solid phase extraction technique using Oasis HLB cartridges. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column by using a mixture of acetonitrile-5 mM ammonium acetate buffer (83:17, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. The calibration curve obtained was linear (r2≥0.99) over the concentration range of 0.05-101 ng/mL. Multiple-reaction monitoring mode (MRM) was used for quantification of ion transitions at m/z 298.3/154.1 and 303.3/159.1 for the drug and the internal standard, respectively. Method validation was performed as per FDA guidelines and the results met the acceptance criteria. A run time of 2.5 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 300 plasma samples per day. The proposed method was found to be applicable to clinical studies.

Simultaneous Determination of Atorvastatin and Aspirin in Human Plasma by LC-MS/MS: Its Pharmacokinetic Application.

A simple, rapid, and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectro-metric (LC-MS/MS) assay method has been developed and fully validated for the simultaneous quantification of atorvastatin and aspirin in human plasma using a polarity switch. Proguanil and furosemide were used as the internal standards for the quantification of atorvastatin and aspirin, respectively. The analytes were extracted from human plasma by the liquid-liquid extraction technique using methyl tert-butyl ether. The reconstituted samples were chromatographed on a Zorbax XDB Phenyl column by using a mixture of 0.2% acetic acid buffer, methanol, and acetonitrile (20:16:64, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Prior to detection, atorvastatin and aspirin were ionized using an ESI source in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The ions were monitored at the positive m/z 559.2→440.0 transition for atorvastatin and the negative m/z 179.0→136.6 transition for aspirin. The calibration curve obtained was linear (r(2) ≥ 0.99) over the concentration range of 0.20-151 ng/mL for atorvastatin and 15.0-3000 ng/mL for aspirin. The method validation was performed as per FDA guidelines and the results met the acceptance criteria. A run time of 3.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 300 human plasma samples per day. The proposed method was found to be applicable to clinical studies.