Purpose: Monohydroxyethylrutoside (monoHER) has proved to be a good protector against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity without interfering with the antitumor effect of doxorubicin. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there is a pharmacokinetic interaction between monoHER and doxorubicin which may be involved in monoHER cardioprotection.
Methods: Mice were treated with monoHER (500 mg x kg(-1) i.v.) alone, monoHER 5 min after doxorubicin (10 mg x kg(-1) i.v.), doxorubicin alone and doxorubicin 5 min after monoHER. The levels of monoHER and doxorubicin(ol) in plasma and heart tissue were measured by HPLC 24 h and 48 h after monoHER and doxorubicin administration, respectively.
Results: The areas under the concentration-time curves (AUCs) of monoHER and doxorubicin(ol) were not affected by the coadministered drug. No changes were observed in pharmacokinetic parameters such as initial and final half-lives, mean residence time, clearance and volume of distribution of monoHER and doxorubicin(ol) after single or combined administration.
Conclusion: The cardioprotection of monoHER in mice is not caused by a pharmacokinetic interaction between monoHER and doxorubicin.