Biomedical Chromatography

Łuszczyńska, Paulina; Pawiński, Tomasz; Kunicki, Paweł K.; Sikorska, Katarzyna; Marszałek, Ryszard

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3976pmid: 28317135

The aim of this study was to develop and validate fully the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for free mycophenolic acid (MPA) concentration measurements in plasma ultrafiltrate that will be reliable and simple in preparation with deuterated MPA (MPA‐d3) chosen as an internal standard. The chromatographic separation was made with Zorbax Eclipse XDB‐C18 column (4.6 × 150 mm) using a gradient of two solutions as a mobile phase: (A) water and (B) methanol, each containing 0.1% formic acid and 2.5 mm ammonium acetate. Satisfactory repeatability of retention times was achieved with average values of 7.54 ± 0.20 min and 7.50 ± 0.19 min for MPA and MPA‐d3, respectively. The method was selective, with no carry‐over or matrix effect observed. The analytical range was proven for MPA ultrafiltrate concentrations of 1–500 ng/mL. The accuracy and precision fell within the acceptance criteria for intraday (accuracy: 100.63–110.46%, imprecision: 6.23–7.76%), as well as interday assay (accuracy: 98.81–110.63%; imprecision: 5.36–10.22%). The method was used for free MPA determination in plasma samples from patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil. To the best of our knowledge this is the first liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for free MPA monitoring using MPA‐d3 that allows to measure plasma ultrafiltrate concentrations as low as 1 ng/mL.

Ali, Arslan; Haq, Faraz Ul; Arfeen, Qamar; Sharma, Khaga Raj; Adhikari, Achyut; Musharraf, Syed Ghulam

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3964pmid: 28214376

Diabetes is a major global health problem which requires new studies for its prevention and control. Scoparia dulcis, a herbal product, is widely used for treatment of diabetes. Recent studies demonstrate coixol as a potent and nontoxic insulin secretagog from S. dulcis. This study focuses on developing two quantitative methods of coixol in S. dulcis methanol‐based extracts. Quantification of coixol was performed using high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (method 1) and high‐performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection (method 2) with limits of detection of 0.26 and 11.6 pg/μL, respectively, and limits of quantification of 0.78 and 35.5 pg/μL, respectively. S. dulcis is rich in coixol content with values of 255.5 ± 2.1 mg/kg (method 1) and 220.4 ± 2.9 mg/kg (method 2). Excellent linearity with determination coefficients >0.999 was achieved for calibration curves from 10 to 7500 ng/mL (method 1) and from 175 to 7500 ng/mL (method 2). Good accuracy (bias < −8.6%) and precision (RSD < 8.5%) were obtained for both methods. Thus, they can be employed to analyze coixol in plant extracts and herbal formulations.

Peng, Liang; Rong, Zhengxing; Wang, Hao; Shao, Biyun; Kang, Lei; Qi, Hong; Chen, Hongzhuan

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3971pmid: 28295437

Acetycholinesterase (AChE) that regulates hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh) in the brain, is an important target for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a feature of which is ACh deficiency. However, the methods to precisely determine AChE activity are still under development. We developed a new method to exploit acetylcholine‐d4 as a surrogate substrate of ACh and measure product choline‐d4 via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). This assay detected activity of AChE present in the normal mouse brain, which is consistent with the standard Ellman assay that determines products spectrophotometrically. In AD mouse models, the result of LC–MS/MS assay showed significant higher AChE activity than that seen in control normal mice, while treatment of AD mice with an AChE inhibitor, huperzine A, led to partial decreases in AChE activity. Our results suggest that this surrogate‐based LC–MS/MS method is a new, sensitive and convenient assay for the determination of AChE activity, providing a useful means for screening active compounds that target AChE.

Zhang, Sixi; Xie, Yang; Wang, Jing; Geng, Yanmei; Zhou, Yu; Sun, Chengxin; Wang, Guangshu

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3972pmid: 28294360

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of six flavonoid glycosides – isoorientin (1), orientin (2), 2″‐O‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl isoorientin (3), 2″‐O‐β‐d‐xylopyranosyl isovitexin (4), 6‐C‐l‐α‐arabipyranosyl vitexin (5) and vitexin (6) – in rat plasma using isoquercitrin as the internal standard (IS). Plasma samples were prepared by a one‐step protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Chromatographic analysis was carried out on a 25 cm C18 column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid. Six analytes and IS were detected through electrospray ionization in negative‐ion selection reaction monitoring mode. The mass transitions were as follows: m/z 447.2 → 327.0 for 1, m/z 447.2 → 327.0 for 2, m/z 579.3 → 458.9 for 3, m/z 563.0 → 293.1 for 4, m/z 563.0 → 353.0 for 5, m/z 431.1 → 311.1 for 6, and m/z 463.1 → 300.2 for IS. Calibration curves exhibited good linearity (r2 > 0.9908) over a wide concentration range for all compounds. Intra‐ and inter‐day precision (RSD, %) at four different levels were both <14.2% and the accuracy (RE, %) ranged from −11.9 to 12.0%. The extraction recoveries of the six components ranged from 88.2 to 103.6%. The validated assay was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of the six components in male rat plasma after intravenous administration of total flavonoids of Scorzonera austriaca Wild.

Wu, Songyan; Zhang, Yaqing; Zhang, Zunjian; Song, Rui

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3979pmid: 28342275

Emodin is the representative form of rhubarb, which is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of purgative, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative and antiviral, etc. Previous reports demonstrated that emodin glucuronide was the major metabolite in plasma. Owing to the extensive conjugation reactions of polyphenols, the aim of this study was to identify the metabolites of emodin in rat bile and urine. Neutral loss and precursor ion scan methods of triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer revealed 13 conjugated metabolites in rat bile and 22 metabolites in rat urine, which included four phase I and 18 phase II metabolites. The major metabolites in rat biosamples were emodin glucuronoconjugates. Moreover, rhein monoglucuronide, chrysophanol monoglucuronide and rhein sulfate were proposed for the first time after oral administration of emodin. Overall, liquid chromatography hybrid triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis leads to the discovery of several novel emodin metabolites in rat bile and urine and underscores that conjugated with glucuronic acid is the main metabolic pathway.

Liu, Huixiang; Zang, Meitong; Yang, Aijuan; Ji, Jianbo; Xing, Jie

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3974pmid: 28299804

A sensitive and efficient liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of piperaquine (PQ) and its N‐oxidated metabolite (PQ‐M) in plasma. A simple protein precipitation procedure was used for sample preparation. Adequate chromatographic retention was achieved on a C18 column under gradient elution with acetonitrile and 2 mm aqueous ammonium acetate containing 0.15% formic acid and 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid. A triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source was set up in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method was linear in the range of 2.0–400.0 ng/mL for PQ and 1.0–50.0 ng/mL for PQ‐M with suitable accuracy, precision and extraction recovery. The lower limits of detection (LLOD) were established at 0.4 and 0.2 ng/mL for PQ and PQ‐M, respectively, using 40 μL of plasma sample. The matrix effect was negligible under the current conditions. No effect was found for co‐administrated artemisinin drugs or hemolysis on the quantification of PQ and PQ‐M. Stability testing showed that two analytes remained stable under all relevant analytical conditions. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study performed in rats after a single oral administration of PQ (60 mg/kg).

Chen, Minting; Wei, Suying; Luo, Chaohua; Chen, Feilong; Song, Shuai; Shen, Qun; Mo, Zhixian; Wei, Fenghuan

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3966pmid: 28236316

Wogonin and oroxylin A in Scutellariae Radix, schisandrin in Chinensis Fructus, paeoniflorin in Moutan Cortex and emodin in Polygoni Cuspidate Rhizome et Radix are anti‐inflammatory active compounds. A method for simultaneous determination of the five compounds in rat was developed and validated using high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). The separation was performed on a Symmetry C18 column (4.6 × 50 mm, 3.5 μm) with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phases. The detection was performed using multiple‐reaction monitoring with electrospray ionization source in positive–negative ion mode. The calibration curves showed good linearity (r ≥ 0.9955). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 5 ng/mL for wogonin and schisandrin, 10 ng/mL for oroxylin A and emodin, and 15 ng/mL for paeoniflorin, respectively. The relative standard deviations of intraday and interday precisions were <11.49 and 14.28%, respectively. The extraction recoveries and matrix effects were acceptable. The analytes were stable under the experiment conditions. The validated method has been successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of the five compounds in rats after oral administration of Hu‐gan‐kan‐kang‐yuan capsule. This paper would be a valuable reference for pharmacokinetic studies of Chinese medicine preparations containing the five compounds.

Guo, Yaqing; Liu, Hongxia; Ding, Liqin; Oppong, Mahmood; Pan, Guixiang; Qiu, Feng

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3970pmid: 28273367

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of luteolin, luteolin‐7‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, physalin A, physalin D and physalin L in rat plasma. Scutellarein and dexamethasone were used as the internal standards (IS). Plasma samples were prepared by liquid‐liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The five constituents were separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). A gradient elution procedure was used with acetonitrile (A)‐0.1% aqueous formic acid (B). Mass spectrometric detection was performed in negative ion multiple reaction monitoring mode with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. This method showed good linearity (r2 > 0.997) over a concentration range of 2.0–500 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 2.0 ng/mL for all five compounds. The inter‐ and intra‐day accuracy ranged from 91.7 to 104%, and precisions (RSD) were <6.46% for all analytes. The extraction recoveries of all analytes were >85%. This validated method was successfully applied for the first time to the pharmacokinetic study of five ingredients after oral administration of 70% ethanol extract of Chinese lantern in rats.

Jiao, Huiwen; Li, Yueqi; Sun, Luning; Zhang, Hongwen; Yu, Liyuan; Yu, Lei; Yuan, Ziqingyun; Xie, Lijun; Chen, Juan; Wang, Yongqing

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3980pmid: 28370240

Li, Meng‐Fang; Hu, Xiao‐Xia; Ma, Ai‐Qun

doi: 10.1002/bmc.3975pmid: 28317144

Omarigliptin is a novel long‐acting dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this work, a sensitive and selective ultra‐high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of omarigliptin in rat plasma. Sample preparation was performed by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation of analytes was achieved on an RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm), using gradient mobile phase (0.1% formic acid–acetonitrile) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode, with target fragment ions m/z 399.1 → 152.9 for omarigliptin and m/z 237.1 → 194 for the internal standard. The total run time was 4 min. Retention time of omarigliptin and internal standard was 1.25 and 2.12 min, respectively. Relative standard deviation (%) of the intra‐ and inter‐day precision was below 10.0%, and accuracy was between 97.9% and 105.3%. Calibration curve was established over the range 2–5000 ng/mL with good linearity. The lower limit of quantification and limit of detection of omarigliptin were 2 and 0.25 ng/mL, respectively. Mean recoveries were in the range 87.3–95.1% for omarigliptin. No matrix effect was observed in this method. This novel method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of omarigliptin in rats. The absolute bioavailability of omarigliptin was identified as high as 87.31%.