LC-MS/MS method for the determination of a new puerarin derivative and its application in pharmacokinetic studies in rats

Abstract

AimTo establish a sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantitative analysis of dehydrated puerarin in rat plasma, and its application for pharmacokinetic studies. MethodsA plasma sample was pretreated by one-step protein precipitation by the addition of five volumes of methanol. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax SB-C18 column (4.6 mm × 150 mm I.D. 5.0 μm, Agilent, USA) at 40 °C at a flow rate of 0.6 mL·min−1 by an isocratic elution consisting of 10 mmol·L−1 ammonium acetate in methanol and water containing 0.1% formic acid in a ratio of 20 : 80 (V/V). Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. An atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface in positive ionization mode was used by monitoring the transitions from m/z 399.1→281.0 (dehydrated puerarin) and m/z 271.0→215.0 (internal standard, IS). ResultsCalibration curves were linear in the concentration range from 1.50 to 5400 ng·mL−1, and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.50 ng·mL−1 in rat plasma. The accuracy and precision values, which were calculated from three different sets of quality control samples analyzed in sextuplicate on three different days, ranged from 95.73% to 103.18%, and from 4.33% to 7.86%, respectively. ConclusionThe method was successfully applied to assess the pharmacokinetics of dehydrated puerarin after oral administration in rats.