Simultaneous Determination of Six Bioactive Components of Astragali Radix in Rat Plasma Using Triple Quadrupole LC/MS and its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

Abstract

Aims: In this study, a rapid, sensitive and selective Triple Quadrupole LC/MS method was developed to determine Calycosin-7-glucoside, Formononetin, Calycosin, Ononin, Cycloastragenoland Astragaloside IV from the extractive of Astragali Radixin in rat plasma, and it was validated for rat plasma as the matrix and applied for a pharmacokinetic study in rat plasma, while the internal standard was Sulfamethoxazole. Background: Besides, a simple, one-step deproteinization procedure was followed to prepare plasma samples, and separation was achieved on an InfinityLab Poroshell 120 column (3.0 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 μm)with a gradient mobile phase consisting of solution A (water containing 0.1% formic acid) and solution B (methanol) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Objective: Furthermore, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used with an electrospray ionization source with the Agilent Jet Steam System (AJS-ESI) in the positive mode. Method: In this study, a rapid, sensitive and selective Triple Quadrupole LC/MS method was developed to determine Calycosin-7-glucoside, Formononetin, Calycosin, Ononin, Cycloastragenoland Astragaloside IV from the extractive of Astragali Radixin rat plasma, and it was validated for plasma as the matrix and applied for a pharmacokinetic study in rats, while the internal standard was Sulfamethoxazole. Result: Furthermore, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used with an electrospray ionization source with the Agilent Jet Steam System (AJS-ESI) in the positive mode. Conclusion: Apart from that, a good linear response was observed within all analytes. The pharmacokinetic study on the six analytes in rats after oral administration of Astragali Radix was successfully completed by adopting this method, thusfilling a blank in pharmacokinetic studies of Astragali Radix.