Establishment of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for determination of bicyclol in rat single‐pass intestinal perfusion

A simple, rapid and sensitive method was developed for determination of bicyclol, a new synthetic anti‐hepatitis drug, in rat plasma from the mesenteric vein using a high‐performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a positive ion electrospray–mass spectrometric analysis. Bicyclol and internal standard (biphenyldicarboxylate, DDB) were isolated from plasma by liquid–liquid extraction, then separated on a Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column (3.5 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm) with mobile phase of methanol–water (60:40, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Detection was performed on a Trap XCT mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in selected ion monitoring mode. Positive ion ESI was used to form sodium adduct molecular ions at m/z 413 for bicyclol and m/z 441 for DDB, respectively. A linear detection response was obtained for bicyclol ranging from 3.3 to 333.3 ng/mL and the lower limit of quantitation was 3.3 ng/mL. The coefficients of variation for intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were 1.1–7.7 and 2.0–6.6%, respectively. The percentage of absolute recovery of bicyclol was 85.3–94.6%. All analytes proved to be stable during all sample storage, preparation and analytic procedures. The method was successfully applied to determine the plasma concentration of bicyclol in mesenteric vein after intestinal perfusion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A rapid and sensitive LC–MS/MS method for analysis of iguratimod in human plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study in Chinese healthy volunteers

A rapid, sensitive and reproducible LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated to determine iguratimod in human plasma. Sample preparation was achieved by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was operated on an Ultimate® XB‐C₁₈ column (2.1 × 50 mm, 3.5 μm, Welch) with a flow rate of 0.400 mL/min, using a gradient elution with acetonitrile and water which contained 2 mm ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. The detection was performed on a Triple Quad™ 5500 mass spectrometer coupled with an electrospray ionization interface under positive‐ion multiple reaction monitoring mode with the transition ion pairs of m/z 375.2 → 347.1 for iguratimod and m/z 244.3 → 185.0 for agomelatine (the internal standard), respectively. The method was linear over the range of 5.00–1500 ng/mL with correlation coefficients ≥0.9978. The accuracy and precision of intra‐ and inter‐day, dilution accuracy, recovery and stability of the method were all within the acceptable limits and no matrix effect or carryover was observed. As a result, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of iguratimod were as follows: C_max, 1074 ± 373 ng/mL; AUC_0–72, 13591 ± 4557 ng h/mL; AUC_0–∞, 13,712 ± 4613 ng h/mL; T_max, 3.29 ± 1.23 h; and t_1/2, 8.89 ± 1.23 h.     

Simultaneous quantitation of metformin and dapagliflozin in human plasma by LC–MS/MS: Application to a pharmacokinetic study

A single LC–MS/MS assay has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of metformin and dapagliflozin in human plasma using ion‐pair solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic separation of the analytes and their internal standards was carried out on a reversed‐phase ACE 5CN (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column using acetonitrile–15 mm ammonium acetate, pH 4.5 (70:30, v/v) as the mobile phase. To achieve higher sensitivity and selectivity for the analytes, mass spectrometric analysis was performed using a polarity switching approach. Ion transitions studied using multiple reaction monitoring mode were m/z 130.1 [M + H]⁺/60.1 for metformin and m/z 467.1 [M + CH₃COO]^?/329.1 for dapagliflozin in the positive and negative modes, respectively. The linear calibration range of the assay was established from 1.00 to 2000 ng/mL for metformin and from 0.10 to 200 ng/mL for dapagliflozin to achieve a better assessment of the pharmacokinetics of the drugs. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for the analytes were 0.39 and 1.0 ng/mL for metformin and 0.03 and 0.1 ng/mL for dapagliflozin, respectively. There was no interference of plasma matrix obtained from different sources, including hemolyzed and lipemic plasma. The method was successfully applied to study the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of metformin and dapagliflozin in healthy subjects.     

Simultaneous determination of metacavir and its metabolites in rat plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS)

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of metacavir and its two metabolites in rat plasma was developed and validated. Tinidazole was used as an internal standard and plasma samples were pretreated with one‐step liquid–liquid extraction. In addition, these analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse‐phase C₁₈ column and analyzed by MS in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The monitored precursor to product‐ion transitions for metacavir, 2′,3′‐dideoxyguanosine, O‐methylguanine and the internal standard were m/z 266.0 → 166.0, m/z 252.0 → 152.0, m/z 166.0 → 149.0 and m/z 248.0 → 202.0, respectively. The standard curves were found to be linear in the range of 1–1000 ng/mL for metacavir, 5–5000 ng/mL for 2′,3′‐dideoxyguanosine and 1–1000 ng/mL for O‐methylguanine in rat plasma. The precision and accuracy for both within‐ and between‐batch determination of all analytes ranged from 2.83 to 9.19% and from 95.86 to 111.27%, respectively. No significant matrix effect was observed. This developed method was successfully applied to an in vivo pharmacokinetic study after a single intravenous dose of 20 mg/kg metacavir in rats. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of plasma nicotine and cotinine by UHPLC–MS/MS in C57BL/6 mice and its application in a pharmacokinetic study

Plasma concentrations of nicotine and its active metabolite cotinine are highly correlated with its biological effects. A UHPLC–MS/MS method was developed, validated and applied for nicotine and cotinine analysis in mice plasma. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a BEH HILIC column using acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid) and 10 mm ammonium formate as mobile phase. The gradient elution was performed at 0.4 mL/min with a run time of 3.6 min. The quantitative ion transition was m/z 163.1 > 130.0 for nicotine, m/z 177.1 > 80.0 for cotinine and m/z 167.1 > 134.0 for nicotine‐D₄ (internal standard, IS). For both nicotine and cotinine, the calibration range was 5–500 ng/mL with 5 ng/mL as the lower limit of quantitation, and the intra‐ and inter‐day bias and imprecision were ?4.61–12.00% and <11.12%. The IS normalized recovery was 90.62–98.95% for nicotine and 89.18–101.53% for cotinine, and the IS normalized matrix factor was 106.00–116.44% for nicotine and 100.34–109.85% for cotinine. Both nicotine and cotinine were stable under conventional storage conditions. The validated method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study in mice to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters for both analytes.     

Determination of corypalmine in mouse blood by UPLC–MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

In this work, a selective and sensitive ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for determination of corypalmine in mouse blood after oral or intravenous administration. A UPLC BEH C₁₈ column was used to separate corypalmine and berberrubine (internal standard) at 40°C. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile and 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate (containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min, and the total run time was 4.0 min. Electrospray ionization in positive ion mode was applied; target fragment ions m/z 342.2 → 178.0 for corypalmine and m/z 322.1 → 307.0 for berberrubine were identified with multiple reaction monitoring mode. The linear range was 1–1000 ng/mL (r > 0.995) and the lower limit of quantification for corypalmine in plasma was 1.0 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were both <14%. The range of accuracy in this method was 97.5–109.0%. Mean recovery was >69.6%, and the matrix effect was 96.8–107.6%. Based on its high sensitivity, specificity and reliability, this method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetic parameters of corypalmine in mouse by oral and intravenous administration, and finally, the bioavailability of corypalmine was identified at 4.6%.     

A validated LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of thalidomide and its two metabolites in human plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic assay

An accurate and sensitive LC–MS/MS method for determining thalidomide, 5‐hydroxy thalidomide and 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide in human plasma was developed and validated using umbelliferone as an internal standard. The analytes were extracted from plasma (100 μL) by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and then separated on a BETASIL C₁₈ column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 μm) with mobile phase composed of methanol–water containing 0.1% formic acid (70:30, v/v) in isocratic mode at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The detection was performed using an API triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions m/z 259.1 → 186.1 for thalidomide, m/z 273.2 → 161.3 for 5‐hydroxy thalidomide, m/z 273.2 → 146.1 for 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide and m/z 163.1 → 107.1 for umbelliferone (internal standard, IS) were used for quantification. The calibration curves were obtained in the concentrations of 10.0–2000.0 ng/mL for thalidomide, 0.2–50.0 ng/mL for 5‐hydroxy thalidomide and 1.0–200.0 ng/mL for 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide. The method was validated with respect to linear, within‐ and between‐batch precision and accuracy, extraction recovery, matrix effect and stability. Then it was successfully applied to estimate the concentration of thalidomide, 5‐hydroxy thalidomide and 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide in plasma samples collected from Crohn's disease patients after a single oral administration of thalidomide 100 mg.     

Pharmacokinetics of TAK‐875 and its toxic metabolite TAK‐875‐ acylglucuronide in rat plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

TAK‐875 is a selective partial agonist of human GPR40 receptor, which was unexpectedly terminated at phase III clinical trials owing to its severe hepatotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of TAK‐875 and its toxic metabolite TAK‐875‐acylglucuronide in rat plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate and chromatographic separations were achieved on a C₁₈ column with water and acetonitrile containing 0.05% ammonium hydroxide as mobile phase. The sample was detected in selected reaction monitoring mode with precursor‐to‐product ion transitions being m/z 523.2 → 148.1, m/z 699.3 → 113.1 and m/z 425.2 → 113.1 for TAK‐875, TAK‐875‐acylglucuronide and IS, respectively. The assay showed good linearity over the tested concentration ranges (r > 0.9993), with the LLOQ being 0.5 ng/mL for both analytes. The extraction recovery was >78.45% and no obvious matrix effect was detected. The highly sensitive LC–MS/MS method has been further applied for the pharmacokinetic study of TAK‐875 and its toxic metabolite TAK‐875‐acylglucuronide in rat plasma. Pharmacokinetics results revealed that oral bioavailability of TAK‐875 was 86.85%. The in vivo exposures of TAK‐875‐acylglucuronide in terms of AUC_0–t were 17.54 and 22.29% of that of TAK‐875 after intravenous and oral administration, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of 9‐dehydro‐17‐hydro‐andrographolide and sodium 9‐dehydro‐17‐hydro‐andrographolide‐19‐yl sulfate in rat plasma by UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS after administration of xiyanping injection: application to a pharmacokinetic study

9‐Dehydro‐17‐hydro‐andrographolide (DHA) and sodium 9‐dehydro‐17‐hydro‐andrographolide‐19‐yl sulfate (DHAS) are active ingredients of xiyanping injection in clinical use. A simple, rapid and sensitive UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method was developed for the determination of DHA and DHAS in rat plasma, and the pharmacokinetics of DHA and DHAS after intravenous administration of xiyanping injection was investigated. The plasma samples were treated with methanol to precipitate out protein, and the separation of DHA and DHAS was achieved on a Waters BEH C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate solution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. DHA, DHAS and the internal standard (internal standard, IS) diethylstilbestrol were detected at negative ion mode. The precursor‐product ion pairs used in multiple reaction monitoring mode were: m/z 349.1 → 286.9 (DHA), m/z 428.9 → 96.0 (DHAS) and m/z 267.1 → 236.9 (IS). Calibration curves offered satisfactory linearity within the test range, and all correlation coefficients were >0.995. The lower limit of detection of DHA and DHAS in plasma samples were determined to be 0.1 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/mL for DHA and DHAS. All the recoveries of the quality control samples were in the range of 86.0–102.4%. The ratios of matrix effect were between 89.2 and 105.1%. The method was fully validated and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of DHA and DHAS in rats. The study showed that both DHA and DHAS were distributed and eliminated rapidly in rats. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous quantification of tizoxanide and tizoxanide glucuronide in mouse plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a broad‐spectrum antimicrobial agent. Tizoxanide (T) and tizoxanide glucuronide (TG) are the major circulating metabolites after oral administration of NTZ. A rapid and specific LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of T and TG in mouse plasma was developed and validated. A simple acetonitrile‐induced protein precipitation method was employed to extract two analytes and the internal standard glipizide from 50 μL of mouse plasma. The purified samples were resolved using a C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 5 mm ammonium formate buffer (containing 0.05% formic acid) following a gradient elution. An API 3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated under multiple reaction‐monitoring mode with electrospray ionization. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions m/z 264 → m/z 217 for T and m/z 440 → m/z 264 for TG were used for quantification. The developed method was linear in the concentration ranges of 1.0–500.0 ng/mL for T and 5.0–1000.0 ng/mL for TG. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples at low, medium and high concentrations exhibited an RSD of <13.2% and the accuracy values ranged from ?9.6 to 9.3%. We used this validated method to study the pharmacokinetics of T and TG in mice following oral administration of NTZ. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of bencycloquidium bromide in dog plasma by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid, selective and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for determining bencycloquidium bromide (BCQB) in beagle dog plasma. The plasma sample was deproteinized with methanol which contained l‐ethyl‐bencycloquidium bromide as internal standard, and supernantant was assayed by LC‐MS/MS. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Phenomenex C₁₈ column (100 × 2.0 mm, i.d., 3.0 μm) with a gradient programme mobile phase consisting of methanol and ammonium acetate (5 mm) containing 0.15% acetic acid and at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Electrospray ionization in positive ion mode and selective reaction monitoring was used for the quantification of BCQB with a monitored transitions m/z 330.2 → 142.1 for BCQB and m/z 344.2 → 126.2 for IS. Validation results indicated that the lower limit of quantification was 0.05 ng/mL and the assay exhibited a linear range of 0.05–10.0 ng/mL and gave a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The intra‐ and inter‐run precisions of the assay were 1.7–4.6 and 3.2–15.6%, respectively, and the intra‐ and inter‐day accuracies were ?8.8 to 1.1 and ?5.0 to 4.6%, respectively. The developed method was applied for the pharmacokinetic study of BCQB in beagle dogs following a single intranasal dose. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of mefenamic acid in human plasma: application to pharmacokinetic study

In the present study, the development and validation of an LC‐MS/MS method for quantifying mefenamic acid in human plasma is described. The method involves liquid–liquid extraction using diclofenac as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Thermo Hypurity C₁₈, 50 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm column with a mobile phase consisting of 2 m m ammonium acetate buffer and methanol (pH 4.5 adjusted with glacial acetic acid; 15:85, v/v) at a flow‐rate of 0.75 mL/min and the total run time was 1.75 min. Analyte was introduced to the LC‐MS/MS using an atmospheric pressure ionization source. Both the drug and IS were detected in negative‐ion mode using multiple reaction monitoring m/z 240.0 → 196.3 and m/z 294.0 → 250.2, respectively, with a dwell time of 200 ms for each of the transitions. The standard curve was linear from 20 to 6000 ng/mL. This assay allows quantification of mefenamic acid at a concentration as low as 20 ng/mL in human plasma. The observed mean recovery was 73% for the drug. The applicability of this method for pharmacokinetic studies has been established after successful application during a 12‐subject bioavailibity study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of rhynchophylline and hirsutine in rat plasma by UPLC‐MS/MS after oral administration of Uncaria rhynchophylla extract

An ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated to concurrently determine rhynchophylline and hirsutine in rat plasma. The sample preparation of rat plasma was achieved by alkalization and liquid–liquid extraction. The mass transition of precursor ion → product ion pairs were monitored at m/z 385.2 → 160.0 for rhynchophylline, m/z 369.3 → 144.0 for hirsutine and m/z 414.0 → 220.0 for noscapine (internal standard). This method revealed linear relationships from 2.5 to 50 ng/mL (r² > 0.997) for rhynchophylline and from 2.5 to 50 ng/mL (r² > 0.998) for hirsutine. The limit of quantification values for rhynchophylline and hirsutine in rat plasma were both 2.5 ng/mL. Intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were within 10.6% and 12.5%, respectively, for rhynchophylline and hirsutine, and the accuracy (bias) was <10%. Liquid–liquid extraction of rat plasma samples resulted in insignificant matrix effect, and the extraction recoveries were >83.6% for rhynchophylline, 73.4% for hirsutine and 90.7% for the internal standard. This method was applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study of rhynchophylline and hirsutine in rats after oral administration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid and sensitive LC‐MS/MS method for determination of megestrol acetate in human plasma: application to a human pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, simple and fully validated LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of megestrol acetate in human plasma using tolbutamide as an internal standard (IS) after one‐step liquid–liquid extraction with methyl‐tert‐butyl‐ether. Detection was performed using electrospray ionization in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the transitions m/z 385.5 → 267.1 for megestrol acetate and m/z 271.4 → 155.1 for IS. Chromatographic separation was performed on a YMC Hydrosphere C₁₈ column with an isocratic mobile phase, which consisted of 10 mm ammonium formate buffer (adjusted to pH 5.0 with formic acid)–methanol (60:40, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The achieved lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL (signal‐to‐noise ratio > 10) and the standard calibration curve for megestrol acetate was linear (r > 0.99) over the studied concentration range (1–2000 ng/mL). The proposed method was fully validated by determining its specificity, linearity, LLOQ, intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability. The validated LC‐MS/MS method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of megestrol acetate after oral administration of a single dose 800 mg of megestrol acetate (Megace?) to five healthy Korean male volunteers under fed conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous quantification of metformin and glipizide in human plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A selective, sensitive and rapid high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated to determine metformin and glipizide simultaneously in human plasma using phenacetin as internal standard (IS). After one‐step protein precipitation of 200 μL plasma with methanol, metformin, glipizide and IS were separated on a Kromasil Phenyl column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm) at 40°C with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of methanol–10 mmol/L ammonium acetate (75:25, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in the positive mode. Multiple reaction monitoring using the precursor → product ion combinations of m/z 130 → m/z 71, m/z 446 → m/z 321 and m/z 180 → m/z 110 were used to quantify metformin, glipizide and IS, respectively. The linear calibration curves were obtained over the concentration ranges 4.10–656 ng/mL for metformin and 2.55–408 ng/mL for glipizide. The relative standard deviation of intra‐day and inter‐day precision was below 10% and the relative error of accuracy was between ?7.0 and 4.6%. The presented HPLC‐MS/MS method was proved to be suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of metformin hydrochloride and glipizide tablets in healthy volunteers after oral administration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative determination of saroglitazar,a predominantly PPAR alpha agonist,in human plasma by a LC–MS/MS method utilizing electrospray ionization in a positive mode

A sensitive LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for quantitation of saroglitazar using turboion spray interface with positive ion mode. A liquid–liquid extraction, with a mixture of dichloromethane and diethyl ether, was employed for the extraction of saroglitazar and glimepiride (IS) from human plasma. The chromatographic separation was achieved using an ACE‐5, C₁₈ (4.6 × 100 mm) column with a gradient mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and ammonium acetate buffer with trifluoracetic acid in purified water. Both analytes were separated within 10 min with retention times of 4.52 and 2.57 min for saroglitazar and IS, respectively. Saroglitazar quantitation was achieved by the summation of two MRM transition pairs (m/z 440.2 to m/z 366.0 and m/z 440.2 to m/z 183.1), while that of IS was achieved using transition pair m/z 491.3 to m/z 352.0. The calibration standards of saroglitazar showed linearity from 0.2 to 500 ng/mL, with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.2 ng/mL. The biases for inter‐ and intra‐batch assays were ?7.51–1.15% and ?11.21 to ?3.25%, respectively, while the corresponding precisions were 5.04–8.06% and 1.53–7.68%, respectively. The developed method was used to monitor the plasma concentrations of saroglitazar in clinical samples.     

Determination of limonin in dog plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of limonin in beagle dog plasma using nimodipine as internal standard. The analyte and internal standard (IS) were extracted with ether followed by a rapid isocratic elution with 10 mm ammonium acetate buffer–methanol (26:74, v/v) on a C₁₈ column (150 × 2.1 mm i.d.) and subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 469.4 → 229.3 and m/z 417.2 → 122.0 were used to measure the analyte and the IS. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.625–100 ng/mL for limonin in dog plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 0.312 ng/mL and the extraction recovery was >90.4% for limonin. The inter‐ and intra‐day precision of the method at three concentrations was less than 9.9%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of limonin in dogs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of asperosaponin VI in rat plasma by HPLC‐ESI‐MS and its application to preliminary pharmacokinetic studies

Asperosaponin VI (also named akebia saponin D) is a typical bioactive triterpenoid saponin isolated from the rhizome of Dipsacus asper Wall (Dipsacaceae). In this work, a sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (HPLC‐ESI‐MS) assay has been established for determination of asperosaponin VI in rat plasma. With losartan as the internal standard (IS), plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation with methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column with a mobile phase of 10 mm ammonium acetate buffer containing 0.05% formic acid–methanol (32 : 68, v/v). The analysis was performed on an ESI in the selected ion monitoring mode using target ions at m/z 951.4 for asperosaponin VI and m/z 423.2 for the IS. The calibration curve was linear over the range 3–1000 ng/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 3.0 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐assay variability values were less than 9.5 and 7.8%, respectively. The accuracies determined at the concentrations of 3.0, 100.0, 300.0 and 1000 ng/mL for asperosaponin VI were within ±15.0%. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after oral administration of asperosaponin VI. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric method for the quantification of azithromycin in human plasma

A liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric assay for the quantification of azithromycin in human plasma was developed. Azithromycin and imipramine (as internal standard, IS) were extracted from 0.5 mL human plasma using extraction with diethyl ether under alkaline conditions. Chromatographic separation of drug and IS was performed using a C₁₈ column at room temperature. A mobile phase consisting of methanol, water, ammonium hydroxide and ammonium acetate was pumped at 0.2 mL/min. The mass spectrometer was operated in positive ion mode and selected ion recording acquisition mode. The ions utilized for quantification of azithromycin and IS were m/z 749.6 (M + H) ⁺ and m/z 591.4 (fragment) for azithromycin, and 281.1 m/z for internal standard; retention times were 6.9 and 3.4 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (r² > 0.999) in the concentration ranges of 10–1000 ng/mL. The mean absolute recoveries for 50 and 500 ng/mL azithromycin and 1 µg/ mL IS were >75%. The percentage coefficient of variation and mean error were <11%. Based on validation data, the lower limit of quantification was 10 ng/mL. The present method was successfully applied to determine azithromycin pharmacokinetic parameters in two obese volunteers. The assay had applicability for use in pharmacokinetic studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of aristolochic acid‐I in rat plasma

A sensitive, rapid and specific liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of aristolochic acid‐I (AA‐I) in rat plasma. Finasteride was used as the internal standard (IS). The analyte was separated on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB‐C₁₈ column by isocratic elution with methanol‐10 mM ammonium acetate (75:25, v/v, pH = 7.3) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min, and analyzed by mass spectrometry in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions of m/z 359.0 → 298.2 and m/z 373.1 → 305.2 were used to detect AA‐I and IS, respectively. Good linearity was achieved over a range of 0.4–600 ng/mL. Intra‐ and inter‐day precisions measured as relative standard deviation were less than 13.5%, and accuracy ranged from 94.2 to 97.5%. The developed method was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic study of AA‐I in rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.