The antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics research of PPD-Arg (Tos) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this study, a new compound PPD-Arg (Tos) (PAT), an arginine derivative of 20(s)-PPD, was synthesized via Fmoc-Arg (Tos)-OH and 20(s)-PPD. The pharmacokinetic properties in rats, in vitro cytotoxicity, and cell apoptosis rates of protopanaxadiol (PPD) and PAT were determined. A sensitive bioanalytical method for pharmacokinetics using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was developed and validated. The result showed that the T max and t 1/2 of PAT were significantly enhanced, indicating a long-lasting effect in vivo . Compared to the PPD group, the PAT group showed higher bioavailability. PAT also exhibited higher antitumor efficacy than PPD against three cancer cells, especially the strongest inhibitory activity against Huh-7, even more potent than the positive control of paclitaxel. Therefore, the apoptosis assay based on annexin V/propidium iodide–combined staining against Huh-7 further demonstrated that PAT could induce apoptosis of Huh-7 cells. Better pharmacokinetic properties and antitumor efficacy of the arginine derivative of 20(s)-PPD were important. These findings could provide references for further clinical research on amino acid derivatives of PPD as antitumor agents.