Characterization of human urinary metabolites of the antimalarial piperaquine

Drug Metab Dispos. 2006 Dec;34(12):2011-9. doi: 10.1124/dmd.106.011494. Epub 2006 Sep 6.

Abstract

Five metabolites of the antimalarial piperaquine (PQ) (1,3-bis-[4-(7-chloroquinolyl-4)-piperazinyl-1]-propane) have been identified and their molecular structures characterized. After a p.o. dose of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, urine collected over 16 h from two healthy subjects was analyzed using liquid chromatography (LC)/UV, LC/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)/MS, and H NMR. Five different peaks were recognized as possible metabolites [M1, 320 m/z; M2, M3, and M4, 551 m/z (PQ + 16 m/z); and M5, 567 m/z (PQ + 32 m/z)] using LC/MS/MS with gradient elution. The proposed carboxylic M1 has a theoretical monoisotopic molecular mass of 320.1166 m/z, which is in accordance with the FTICR/MS (320.1168 m/z) findings. The LC/MS/MS results also showed a 551 m/z metabolite (M2) with a distinct difference both in polarity and fragmentation pattern compared with PQ, 7-hydroxypiperaquine, and the other 551 m/z metabolites. We suggest that this is caused by N-oxidation of PQ. The results showed two metabolites (M3 and M4) with a molecular ion at 551 m/z and similar fragmentation pattern as both PQ and 7-hydroxypiperaquine; therefore, they are likely to be hydroxylated PQ metabolites. The molecular structures of M1 and M2 were also confirmed using H NMR. Urinary excretion rate in one subject suggested a terminal elimination half-life of about 53 days for M1. Assuming formation rate-limiting kinetics, this would support recent findings that the terminal elimination half-life of PQ has been underestimated previously.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / blood
  • Antimalarials / pharmacokinetics
  • Antimalarials / urine*
  • Artemisinins / blood
  • Artemisinins / pharmacokinetics
  • Artemisinins / urine
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Drug Combinations
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Quinolines / blood
  • Quinolines / pharmacokinetics
  • Quinolines / urine*
  • Sesquiterpenes / blood
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacokinetics
  • Sesquiterpenes / urine
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Drug Combinations
  • Quinolines
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • artenimol
  • piperaquine