Single dose pharmacokinetics of intravenous 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in rats

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (3-HPAA) are intestinal metabolites of the dietary flavonoid quercetin. DOPAC reportedly showed anxiolytic activity after i.p. administration in rats. The fate of these metabolites after consumption, and the pharmacological properties of 3-HPAA in the body are largely unknown. The aim of the current study was to characterize pharmacokinetic properties of DOPAC and 3-HPAA after intravenous bolus application in rats. UHPLC-MS/MS methods for quantification of DOPAC and 3-HPAA levels in lithium heparin Sprague Dawley rat plasma were developed and validated according to international regulatory guidelines. Non-compartmental and compartmental analyses were performed. Pharmacokinetic profiles of DOPAC and 3-HPAA followed a two-compartment body model, with a fast distribution into peripheral tissues (half-lives of 3.27–5.26 min) and rapid elimination from the body (half-lives of 18.4–33.3 min).