Development of HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of environmental phenols in human urine

We present a sensitive method for simultaneous determination of bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 4-tert-octylphenol (t-OP), ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), four parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl parabens) and five chlorophenols (2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-triclorophenol), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), and triclosan (TCS)), in human urine by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) mass spectrometry (MS). Samples were processed using enzymatic deconjugation of glucuronides followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) on a C18 cartridge and the eluate was concentrated. Analytes were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and then detected by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) MS and quantified by isotope dilution method. We describe details for optimisation of each step of the procedure. The sample treatment steps are straightforward and not labour-intensive and, therefore, permit a high sample throughput with excellent prospects for automation. This method shows low inter-day variation, and detection limits for most of the compounds are below 1 ng/mL in 1 mL of urine. The method accuracy was also verified by the analysis of proficiency testing urine samples.     

固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定人尿中苯氧乙酸除草剂和有机磷、拟除虫菊酯农药代谢物北大核心CSCD

基于96孔固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法,建立了人尿中2种苯氧乙酸除草剂、2种有机磷农药代谢物和4种拟除虫菊酯农药代谢物的测定方法。通过对液相色谱条件、质谱条件和样品前处理过程的系统优化,实现了在16 min内对8种目标分析物的分析测定。具体方法:1 mL尿液经β-葡萄糖醛酸酶酶解过夜,Oasis HLB 96孔固相萃取进行目标分析物的提取净化,甲醇洗脱;以0.1%(体积分数)乙酸乙腈和0.1%(体积分数)乙酸水作为流动相,Acquity BEH C_(18)作为分析柱进行色谱分离;负离子电喷雾(ESI-)多反应监测(MRM)模式下检测目标化合物,同位素内标法定量。2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)、2,4,5-三氯苯氧乙酸(2,4,5-T)2种苯氧乙酸除草剂和3-苯氧基苯甲酸(3-PBA)、4-氟-3-苯氧基苯甲酸(4F-3PBA)、反式二氯乙烯基二甲基环丙烷羧酸(trans-DCCA)3种拟除虫菊酯农药代谢物在0.1~100μg/L内、对硝基苯酚(PNP)、3,5,6-三氯-2-吡啶酚(TCPY)2种有机磷农药代谢物、顺式二氯乙烯基二甲基环丙烷羧酸(cis-DCCA)1种拟除虫菊酯代谢物在0.2~100μg/L内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.9993;方法检出限为0.02~0.07μg/L,方法定量限为0.08~0.2μg/L;低、中、高3个水平下的加标回收率为91.1%~110.5%,日内精密度为2.9%~7.8%,日间精密度为6.2%~10%。应用该方法测定了214份尿液样本。结果显示除2,4,5-T外,其余7种目标分析物均有检出。TCPY、PNP、3-PBA、4F-3PBA、trans-DCCA、cis-DCCA、2,4-D的检出率为2.8%~99.1%。检出浓度(中位值)由高到低分别是2.0μg/L(TCPY)、1.8μg/L(PNP)、0.99μg/L(trans-DCCA)、0.81μg/L(3-PBA)、0.44μg/L(cis-DCCA)、0.35μg/L(2,4-D)和未检出(4F-3PBA)。该方法操作简便,定量准确,灵敏度高,每批次可完成96个样品测定,适用于人尿中多种农药及农药代谢物的批量分析测定。     

A fully validated isotope dilution HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of succinylcholine and succinylmonocholine in serum and urine samples

A high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection of succinylcholine (SUX) and its metabolite succinylmonocholine (SMC) in serum and urine is presented. For internal standardization using isotope dilution, the deuterated compounds SUX-d(18) and SMC-d(3) were employed. Full validation was performed according to international guidelines. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) of acidified samples was accomplished using Strata-X polymeric reversed phase cartridges together with heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) as ion-pairing reagent. Separation was achieved within 13 min on a Phenomenex Synergi Hydro RP C18 column (4 microm, 150 x 2 mm) using a gradient of 5 mM ammonium formate buffer pH 3.5 and acetonitrile.To ensure the method's applicability in forensic as well as clinical toxicology, the specific demands of both research fields were taken into account, and the method was thus validated for a low and high concentration range. For both serum and urine as sample matrix, the validation revealed good intraday and interday precisions, consistently ranging below 15% for the lowest and below 10% for elevated concentrations. Accuracy was likewise good and never exceeded 10%. Extraction recovery was excellent, ranging between 88.1 and 103.9% for SUX and SMC in both tested matrices. Matrix effects were significant, the otherwise optimized extraction and detection methods, however, allowed for a very satisfactory sensitivity of the described method: For serum, the limits of detection and quantitation were determined to be 1.9 and 6.0 ng/ml for SUX, as well as 2.5 and 8.6 ng/ml for SMC, respectively; for urine, the corresponding values were established to be 1.4 and 4.0 ng/ml (SUX), as well as 1.5 and 4.9 ng/ml (SMC).The presented method was successfully applied to authentic samples of two forensic cases investigated in the institute of forensic medicine in Bonn, allowing the diagnosis of SUX intoxications.     

固相萃取地表水中痕量联苯胺及HPLC-MS测定

采用固相萃取及高效液相色谱-串联质谱技术,建立了地表水中痕量联苯胺的测定方法.水样经HLB固相萃取柱富集,二氯甲烷与丙酮(1:1,v/v)洗脱,氮吹后转为甲醇溶剂,以液相色谱串联质谱选择离子监测(SRM)模式定性、定量分析.在本实验条件下,加标回收率在72.0%～94.0%之间,相对标准偏差8.1%～9.8%(n=7)...     

Development and validation of an HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of most common rice pesticides in paddy water systems

Rice crop is mainly cultivated in large river basins which constitute unique ecosystems and their ecological quality is invaluable. However, the high loads of pesticides used in rice cultivation contribute to the contamination of the water resources in such rice-cultivated regions. To regularly monitor the quality of such water resources there is a need for a rapid and sensitive multi-residue analytical method. This study presents the development and validation of a new analytical method for the simultaneous determination of most rice pesticides including penoxsulam, tricyclazole, propanil and its main metabolite 3,4-dichloroaniline, azoxystrobin, molinate, profoxydim and deltamethrin. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD) was used. A C₁₈ RP column operated at 30°C was utilised and the analytes were separated with a mobile phase of acetonitrile/water mixture in a linear gradient. Clean-up of water samples and isolation of pesticides was performed on SPE Bakerbond octadecyl cartridges and an ethyl acetate-dichlomethane mixture (9?:?1 v/v, 2?mL) was used for elution. Method validation was performed by means of intra-day (n?=?5) and inter-day accuracy and precision (n?=?8), sensitivity and linearity. The relative recoveries of the pesticides in paddy water samples were acceptable (80.6–110.2%) and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) ranged from 1.9 to 7.6%. Limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) varied from 0.1 to 0.8?ng?mL^?1 and 0.25 to 2.0?ng?mL^?1 respectively, depending on the analyte. The method was subsequently applied for the determination of pesticide residues in paddy and canal water samples. Tricyclazole was the most frequently detected pesticide at the highest concentrations, while herbicides were less frequently detected and at lower concentrations. The method described could be a valuable tool for regular monitoring of surface water systems in rice-cultivated basins.     

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.     

A state-of-the-science review of analytical methods for urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites in the assessment of exposure to organophosphate pesticides: From 2000 to 2022

The general population and workers are exposed to organophosphate insecticides, one of the leading chemical classes of pesticides used in rural and urban areas. This paper aims to conduct an integrative review of the most used analytical methods for identifying and quantifying dialkylphosphate—which are metabolites of organophosphate insecticides—in the urine of exposed workers, discussing their advantages, limitations and applicability. Searches utilized the PubMed, the Scientific Electronic Library Online and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations databases between 2000 and 2021. Twenty-five studies were selected. The extraction methods most used were liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) (36%) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) (36%), with the SPE being more economical in terms of time and amount of solvents needed, and presenting the best percentage of recovery of analytes, when compared with LLE. Nineteen studies (76%) used the gas chromatography method of separation, and among these, 12 records (63%) indicated mass spectrometry used as a detection technology (analyzer). Studies demonstrate that dialkylphosphates are sensitive and representative exposure biomarkers for environmental and occupational organophosphate exposure.     

Simultaneous determination of pyrethroid,organophosphate, and organochlorine pesticides in fish tissue using tandem solid-phase extraction clean-up

A method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of pyrethroid, organophosphate, and organochlorine pesticides in fish tissue. Different extraction solvents and solid-phase extraction clean-up procedures were tested. The best approach was to extract by sonication with acetonitrile and 10%?methanol, followed by clean-up of extracts using C₁₈, Florisil and Na₂SO₄ tandem solid-phase extraction cartridges. Gas chromatography with an electron-capture detector was used for analyte determination. All 26 target pesticides were detected using the new method in a single analytical run. The method detection limits ranged from 0.13 to 1.40?µg/kg, while recoveries of the analytes ranged from 86.1 to 133.8%?with relative standard deviations?≤12.1%?at a spiked concentration of 5?µg/kg. The method was developed to assess possible pesticide contamination in fish collected from lakes at a proposed Illinois National Guard Armory site.     

Quantitative determination of metformin,glyburide and its metabolites in plasma and urine of pregnant patients by LC‐MS/MS

This report describes the development and validation of an LC‐MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of glyburide (GLB), its five metabolites (M1, M2a, M2b, M3 and M4) and metformin (MET) in plasma and urine of pregnant patients under treatment with a combination of the two medications. The extraction recovery of the analytes from plasma samples was 87–99%, and that from urine samples was 85–95%. The differences in retention times among the analytes and the wide range of the concentrations of the medications and their metabolites in plasma and urine patient samples required the development of three LC methods. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of the analytes in plasma samples was as follows: GLB, 1.02 ng/mL; its five metabolites, 0.100–0.113 ng/mL; and MET, 4.95 ng/mL. The LLOQ in urine samples was 0.0594 ng/mL for GLB, 0.984–1.02 ng/mL for its five metabolites and 30.0 µg/mL for MET. The relative deviation of this method was <14% for intra‐day and inter‐day assays in plasma and urine samples, and the accuracy was 86–114% in plasma, and 94–105% in urine. The method described in this report was successfully utilized for determining the concentrations of the two medications in patient plasma and urine. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method for pharmacokinetic assessment of ribavirin in healthy Chinese

A rapid and sensitive quantitative assay method was developed for determining ribavirin pharmacokinetic in human plasma. The chromatographic separation was achieved within 4.5 min using a SinoChrom ODS-BP column (4.6 x 150 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-water (1 mmol/L ammonium acetate buffer, 0.1% formic acid; 15:85, v/v) at a constant flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The MRM pairs were m/z 245.2 --> m/z 113.1 for ribavirin and m/z 226.1 --> m/z 152.1 for acyclovir (internal standard), respectively, with dwell times of 200 ms for each transition. The results showed calibration curve for ribavirin was linear over a concentration range of 1-1000 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL ribavirin. Twenty healthy volunteers received a 300 mg oral dose of ribavirin. Blood samples were then collected up to 120 h postdosing. All plasma data were comodeled for ribavirin by using noncompartmental modeling. The single dose of ribavirin was well tolerated and no serious adverse effects occurred. The mean time to maximum concentration was about 1.25 h. The mean maximum concentration of drug in plasma for oral ribavirin was 250 ng/mL. The mean elimination half-life was 43.6 h. The present study describes a simple, specific, sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method for measuring plasma drug concentration and analyzing human pharmacokinetics of ribavirin.     

自制混合型小柱净化-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定尿液中有机磷酸酯代谢物和8-羟基-2'-脱氧鸟苷

建立了基于自制混合型小柱的样品净化-高效液相色谱-串联质谱同时测定7种有机磷酸酯（OPEs）主要代谢产物及生物标志物8-羟基-2'-脱氧鸟苷（8-OHdG）的分析方法。样品经乙腈提取后用自制小柱富集净化,以乙腈-0.2%（v/v）氨水溶液作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,在多反应监测模式下进行定性和定量分析。结果显示,8种目标物在0.1~200 μg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,7种OPEs代谢物的回收率为52.36%~114.56%,8-OHdG回收率为88.63%~97.72%。将该方法应用于人体尿液实际样品中,7种OPEs代谢物和8-OHdG的检出范围分别为6.24~46.07 μg/L和5.90~16.71 μg/L,8-OHdG与7种OPEs代谢物总含量之间存在显著相关性。该方法操作简单、灵敏度高、准确性好、重现性强,可为更全面地评价人体内OPEs暴露水平及机体损伤提供可靠的技术支持。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定人尿液中7种邻苯二甲酸酯代谢物

建立了同时检测人尿液中7种邻苯二甲酸酯代谢物的高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱法。尿液经酶水解后,采用萃取柱净化,以2%(v/v)甲酸甲醇溶液为洗脱剂,经苯基柱分离,以0.1%(v/v)乙酸水溶液和0.1%(v/v)乙酸乙腈溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,采用电喷雾离子源负离子模式和多反应监测模式采集信号,用同位素内标法进行定量分析。尿液中7种邻苯二甲酸酯代谢物在0.2~200.0 μg/L范围内定量离子的相对峰面积比值与质量浓度均呈良好线性关系(r≥0.99976);检出限(LOD)为13.43~80.21 ng/L,定量限为44.77~267.37 ng/L; 3个水平的加标回收率为88.8%~108.9%,日内和日间精密度均不大于17.05%。该方法可同时准确、灵敏、简便地测定人尿液中7种邻苯二甲酸酯代谢物的暴露水平。     

固相萃取-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定蔬菜中4种有机磷农药及其代谢产物

在蔬菜种植中经常使用的有机磷农药马拉硫磷、甲基对硫磷、敌百虫及乙酰甲胺磷可能转化的主要代谢产物分别为O,O-二甲基二硫代磷酸酯、对硝基酚、敌敌畏及甲胺磷。根据蔬菜色素等基质的含量不同采用不同的净化方法,色素含量高的蔬菜采用活性炭和弗罗里硅土串联固相萃取小柱净化,其他蔬菜采用弗罗里硅土固相萃取小柱净化。色谱分离选择ACQUITY UPLC BEH HILIC色谱柱,以乙腈和5 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱,得到的分离效果较好;质谱采用电喷雾正或负离子电离、多反应监测模式检测。液相色谱-质谱检测的基质效应为15.3%~45.1%;4种有机磷农药及其代谢物的方法回收率为76.9%~102.8%,相对标准偏差为5.92%~10.19%;定量限范围为0.001~0.01 mg/L;在0.01~1.00 mg/L范围内线性相关系数为0.9982~0.9999。方法具有良好的回收率、相对标准偏差、定量限及线性关系,适合蔬菜中有机磷及代谢物的检测,应用该检测方法对农贸市场购买的白菜、辣椒、西红柿及洋葱进行了检测。     

Development and validation of a SPE-GC-MS method for the determination of pesticides in surface water

A method for analysis of 20 commonly used pesticides in surface water based on solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was proposed. During method development the key parameters that can affect SPE extraction and determination such as selection of efficient SPE sorbent, pH of water sample, type and volume of elution solvent, breakthrough volume and matrix effects were investigated. The method was validated using spring water spiked with appropriate concentration of pesticides. The obtained correlation coefficients were in range 0.9972–1.000, limits of detection (LOD) were 0.001–0.5?µg?L^?1 and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.005–1?µg?L^?1 depending on a pesticide. Much higher LOD (20?µg?L^?1) and LOQ (50?µg?L^?1) values were obtained for bentazone. The influence of matrix was assessed using real water samples spiked with appropriate concentration of pesticide standards solution. Both signal enhancement and suppression were observed, depending on a pesticide, therefore standard addition method was used for pesticides determination. The developed method was applied on real water samples taken in close vicinity of agricultural fields. Many of the targeted pesticides were found in the samples and the results are presented in this article.     

Development and application of methods using SPE,HPLC-DAD,LC-ESI-MS/MS and GFAAS for the determination of herbicides and metals in surface and drinking water

A preliminary study of the pollution in surface and drinking waters caused by herbicides and metals in the Municipal Water Supply System (CORSAN) in Rio Grande city, RS, Brazil, is reported. The occurrence of 5 herbicides and 9 metals was studied in surface and drinking water through the analysis of 2 sampling spots at CORSAN. The analytical determination was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE), high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) for herbicides, and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) for metals. The concentrations of herbicides in the surface water were very low; however, the herbicide clomazone was detected in more than 50% of the samples analysed in concentration exceeding 1.0?µg L^?1. The concentration of metals was below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the Brazilian regulation.     

Validation of a HPLC/MS method for simultaneous quantification of clonidine,morphine and its metabolites in human plasma

A high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of morphine, morphine's major metabolites morphine‐3‐glucuronide and morphine‐6‐glucuronide, and clonidine, to support the pharmacokinetic analysis of an ongoing double‐blinded randomized clinical trial that compares the use of morphine and clonidine in infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Plasma samples were processed by solid‐phase extraction and separated on an Inertsil ODS‐3 (4 μm) column using an 0.1% formic acid in water–0.1% formic acid in methanol gradient. Detection of the analytes was conducted in the positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. The range of quantitation was 1–1000 ng/mL for morphine, morphine‐3‐glucuronide and morphine‐6‐glucuronide, and 0.25–100 ng/mL for clonidine. Intra‐day and inter‐day accuracy and precision were ≤15% for all analytes across the quantitation range. Extraction recovery rates were ≥94% for morphine, ≥90% for M3G, ≥87% for M6G and ≥ 79% for clonidine. Matrix effect ranged from 85–94% for clonidine to 101–106% for M3G. The method fulfilled all predetermined acceptance criteria and required only 100 μL of starting plasma volume. Furthermore, it was successfully applied to 30 clinical trial plasma samples.     

Cryogenic grinding pre-treatment improves extraction efficiency of fluoroquinolones for HPLC-MS/MS determination in animal tissue

An efficiency extraction of fluoroquinolones in chicken muscle was achieved by pulverizing it in a freezer mill before treatment with NaOH (10mM)/MeCN (1:1). The improvement of cryogenic grinding in the extraction was demonstrated for the same piece (whole leg) of four chickens treated with enrofloxacin in equal doses. A confirmatory method based on high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the extracts. The chromatographic separation was achieved in 5min with a Synergi Fusion-RP 80A (50 x 2mm, 4μm) column filled with a hybrid polymer. The HPLC was coupled with a detector based in a quadrupole–linear ion trap Q-TRAP that allows a confirmatory detection according to the European legislation. The specificity of the method was assessed by testing a number of representative blank muscle samples (n = 10) to verify the absence of potential interfering compounds. The limits of detection and quantitation were 2 and 5ng g^-1 of quinolones in muscle samples, respectively. The chromatographic method was demonstrated to be linear for the range studied (5–500ng g^-1) with the P value for lack-of-fit in the ANOVA table greater or equal to 0.10 (calibration coefficient 0.9998 and 0.9996 for ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin, respectively). The mean intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 6, c = 50ng g^-1) was 6%; inter-day assay gave a RSD of 12%. The extraction and clean-up were carried out in one step with very satisfactory recovery data (between 65 and 101%).     

MEKC–MS/MS method using a volatile surfactant for the simultaneous determination of 12 synthetic cannabinoids

This study describes a method for the simultaneous determination of 12 synthetic cannabinoids by MEKC–MS/MS using a volatile surfactant (ammonium perfluorooctanoate) as a constituent of the micellar pseudostationary phase. Although most synthetic cannabinoids comigrated by a CZE method, sufficient separation could be achieved by the proposed method. The best separation was made possible by 50 mM ammonium perfluorooctanoate in 20% v/v acetonitrile/water (apparent pH* 9.0) as the BGE, followed by MS detection using a sheath liquid composed of 5 mM ammonium formate in 50% v/v methanol/water mixed hydro‐organic solvent. The standard calibration curve for all analytes showed good linearity (r > 0.99). Satisfactory recoveries, ranging from 89.5 to 101.7%, were obtained. The LODs were 6.5–76.5 μg/g for the target analytes. This method appears to be a useful tool for the identification of synthetic cannabinoids in illegal herbal incense blends.     

麻黄-甘草药对配伍过程中的主要药效成分的分析

利用高效液相色谱串联质谱联用法(HPLC-MS/MS)和气相色谱质谱联用法(GC-MS)分析了麻黄与甘草药对配伍前后水煎液中主要药效成分的变化,并通过小鼠的耳廓肿胀试验考察了甘草、麻黄单煎液及药对共煎液的抗炎活性变化。分别通过HPLC法和GC-MS法对甘草与麻黄中主要化学成分,甘草酸、甘草苷、麻黄碱和甲基麻黄碱进行了定量分析,通过单煎液和药对共煎液的对比,发现麻黄与甘草配伍共煎液中麻黄碱（含伪麻黄碱）的含量增加了14.52%;甲基麻黄碱（含甲基伪麻黄碱）的含量增加了64.0%;甘草酸含量增加了13.50%;而甘草苷含量降低了19.38%。药效实验证明,甘草与麻黄配伍后抗炎作用较甘草麻黄单煎液明显增强。从而在主要成分的变化程度上揭示了甘草与麻黄配伍过程中的增效机理。     

Development of a mass spectrometric hydroxyl‐position determination method for the hydroxyindole metabolites of JWH‐018 by GC‐MS/MS

One of the many issues of designer drugs of abuse like synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) such as JWH‐018 is that details on their metabolism has yet to be fully elucidated and that multiple metabolites exist. The presence of isomeric compounds poses further challenges in their identification. Our group has previously shown the effectiveness of gas chromatography‐electron ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐EI‐MS/MS) in the mass spectrometric differentiation of the positional isomers of the naphthoylindole‐type SC JWH‐081, and speculated that the same approach could be used for the metabolite isomers. Using JWH‐018 as a model SC, the aim of this study was to differentiate the positional isomers of its hydroxyindole metabolites by GC‐MS/MS. Standard compounds of JWH‐018 and its hydroxyindole metabolite positional isomers were first analyzed by GC‐EI‐MS in full scan mode, which was only able to differentiate the 4‐hydroxyindole isomer. Further GC‐MS/MS analysis was performed by selecting m/z 302 as the precursor ion. All four isomers produced characteristic product ions that enabled the differentiation between them. Using these ions, MRM analysis was performed on the urine of JWH‐018 administered mice and determined the hydroxyl positions to be at the 6‐position on the indole ring. GC‐EI‐MS/MS allowed for the regioisomeric differentiation of the hydroxyindole metabolite isomers of JWH‐018. Furthermore, analysis of the fragmentation patterns suggests that the present method has high potential to be extended to hydroxyindole metabolites of other naphthoylindole type SCs in identifying the position of the hydroxyl group on the indole ring. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.