Simultaneous LC-MS/MS quantification of SGLT2 inhibitors and antipyrine in medium and tissue from human ex vivo placenta perfusions

A liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed to simultaneously measure four sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the transfer marker antipyrine (ANTI) in perfusion medium and placental tissue collected from ex vivo human placental perfusions. The four SGLT2 inhibitors were empagliflozin (EMPA), dapagliflozin (DAPA), ertugliflozin (ERTU) and canagliflozin (CANA). Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Uptisphere® C18 reversed phase column (50 mm × 4.6 mm × 5 µm) within 2.85 min, using a gradient elution with 10 mM ammonium formate in water (mobile phase A) and acetonitrile (mobile phase B) both with 0.1% formic acid. Analysis of ammonium adduct ions was performed on an AB SCIEX 6500+ triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using positive electrospray ionisation and scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (sMRM). The transitions were m/z 468.00 → 355.20 (EMPA), m/z 426.00 → 167.20 (DAPA), m/z 437.10 → 206.90 (ERTU), m/z 462.00 → 249.00 (CANA) and m/z 189.20 → 55.90 (ANTI). The method was validated according to the European Medicines Agency guidelines and was proven to be selective, linear within a concentration range of 1-1000 µg/L (DAPA, CANA, ANTI) and 1-500 µg/L (EMPA, ERTU), accurate, precise and free of carry-over, instabilities, recovery and matrix effect issues. This newly developed method is suitable to analyse perfusion medium and placenta tissue samples collected during ex vivo human placenta perfusions. It thereby enables quantification of transport across the placental barrier of the SGLT2 inhibitors EMPA, DAPA, ERTU and CANA as well as the transfer marker ANTI

Transplacental passage of hyperforin, hypericin, and valerenic acid

Safe medications for mild mental diseases in pregnancy are needed. Phytomedicines from St. John’s wort and valerian are valid candidates, but safety data in pregnancy are lacking. The transplacental transport of hyperforin and hypericin (from St. John’s wort), and valerenic acid (from valerian) was evaluated using the ex vivo cotyledon perfusion model (4 h perfusions, term placentae) and, in part, the in vitro Transwell assay with BeWo b30 cells. Antipyrine was used for comparison in both models. U(H)PLC-MS/MS bioanalytical methods were developed to quantify the compounds. Perfusion data obtained with term placentae showed that only minor amounts of hyperforin passed into the fetal circuit, while hypericin did not cross the placental barrier and valerenic acid equilibrated between the maternal and fetal compartments. None of the investigated compounds affected metabolic, functional, and histopathological parameters of the placenta during the perfusion experiments. Data from the Transwell model suggested that valerenic acid does not cross the placental cell layer. Taken together, our data suggest that throughout the pregnancy the potential fetal exposure to hypericin and hyperforin – but not to valerenic acid – is likely to be minimal

Transplacental passage of hyperforin, hypericin, and valerenic acid

Safe medications for mild mental diseases in pregnancy are needed. Phytomedicines from St. John’s wort and valerian are valid candidates, but safety data in pregnancy are lacking. The transplacental transport of hyperforin and hypericin (from St. John’s wort), and valerenic acid (from valerian) was evaluated using the ex vivo cotyledon perfusion model (4 h perfusions, term placentae) and, in part, the in vitro Transwell assay with BeWo b30 cells. Antipyrine was used for comparison in both models. U(H)PLC-MS/MS bioanalytical methods were developed to quantify the compounds. Perfusion data obtained with term placentae showed that only minor amounts of hyperforin passed into the fetal circuit, while hypericin did not cross the placental barrier and valerenic acid equilibrated between the maternal and fetal compartments. None of the investigated compounds affected metabolic, functional, and histopathological parameters of the placenta during the perfusion experiments. Data from the Transwell model suggested that valerenic acid does not cross the placental cell layer. Taken together, our data suggest that throughout the pregnancy the potential fetal exposure to hypericin and hyperforin – but not to valerenic acid – is likely to be minimal

DataSheet1_Transplacental passage of hyperforin, hypericin, and valerenic acid.PDF

Safe medications for mild mental diseases in pregnancy are needed. Phytomedicines from St. John’s wort and valerian are valid candidates, but safety data in pregnancy are lacking. The transplacental transport of hyperforin and hypericin (from St. John’s wort), and valerenic acid (from valerian) was evaluated using the ex vivo cotyledon perfusion model (4 h perfusions, term placentae) and, in part, the in vitro Transwell assay with BeWo b30 cells. Antipyrine was used for comparison in both models. U(H)PLC-MS/MS bioanalytical methods were developed to quantify the compounds. Perfusion data obtained with term placentae showed that only minor amounts of hyperforin passed into the fetal circuit, while hypericin did not cross the placental barrier and valerenic acid equilibrated between the maternal and fetal compartments. None of the investigated compounds affected metabolic, functional, and histopathological parameters of the placenta during the perfusion experiments. Data from the Transwell model suggested that valerenic acid does not cross the placental cell layer. Taken together, our data suggest that throughout the pregnancy the potential fetal exposure to hypericin and hyperforin – but not to valerenic acid – is likely to be minimal.</p