HPLC method for the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of taspine solution and taspine liposome after intravenous administrations to mice

Taspine is a bioactive aporphine alkaloid, which has many potent pharmacological effects. A simple, rapid HPLC method to quantify taspine in mouse plasma and tissue homogenates containing either taspine solution or liposome was developed and validated. Sample preparation was achieved by liquid–liquid extraction with acetoacetate. Taspine was separated on a C18 reversed phase HPLC column, and quantified by its absorbance at 245 nm. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution after intravenous administrations of taspine liposome (L-Ta) and taspine solution (Ta) to ICR mice were then compared. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) was higher for L-Ta than for Ta. In contrast, the total body clearance (CL), apparent volume of distribution Vc and plasma half-life for the distribution (t1/2α) and elimination phase (t1/2β) were lower for L-Ta, in comparison to the respective parameter of Ta. The AUC values were higher in the lung than in other organs for both L-Ta and Ta. The AUC in the spleen, kidney and liver of L-Ta were higher than those of Ta. However, the heart and brain AUC of Ta was higher than that of L-Ta. It can thus be concluded that incorporation into liposomes prolonged taspine retention within the systemic circulation, increased its distribution to the spleen and liver but reduced its distribution to the heart and brain.