Structural identification of mouse fecal metabolites of theaflavin 3,3'-digallate using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Black tea consumption has been associated with many health benefits including the prevention of cancer and heart disease. Theaflavins are the major bioactive polyphenols present in black tea. Unfortunately, limited information is available on their biotransformation. In the present study, we investigated the metabolic fate of theaflavin 3,3'-digallate (TFDG), one of the most abundant and bioactive theaflavins, in mouse fecal samples using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry by analyzing the MS(n) (n=1-3) spectra. Four metabolites theaflavin, theaflavin 3-gallate, theaflavin 3'-gallate, and gallic acid were identified as the major mouse fecal metabolites of TFDG. Glucuronidated and sulfated, instead of methylated metabolites of theaflavin 3-gallate, theaflavin 3'-gallate, and TFDG were detected and identified as the minor mouse fecal metabolites of TFDG. Our results indicate that TFDG can be degraded in mice. Further studies on the formation of those metabolites in TFDG-treated mice in germ-free conditions are warranted. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the biotransformation of TFDG in mice.     

Structural identification of novel glucoside and glucuronide metabolites of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in mouse urine using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant and most biologically active polyphenolic compound in tea, has been proposed to have many health beneficial effects. The metabolic fate of EGCG, however, is not well understood. In the present study, we identified a novel EGCG metabolite, 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-EGCG-4'-O-beta-D-glucupyranoside, in a mouse urine sample using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The structure of this metabolite was confirmed by analyzing the MSn (n = 1-4) spectra as well as comparing the MS/MS spectra of its product ions with those from EGCG and EGCG-4'-O-beta-D-glucupyranoside standards. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the identification of a glucoside metabolite of EGCG in mammals. Our results indicate that glucosidation represents a novel pathway in the metabolism of EGCG in mice.     

The identification of in vitro metabolites of CKD-732 by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The structural elucidation of fourteen metabolites of CKD-732, formed in vitro with rat liver microsomes, was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS). To identify proposed structures of the metabolites, the product ion mass spectra of the protonated molecules ([M + H]+), the retention times on reversed-phase HPLC, and UV-Vis spectra were utilized. Characteristic product ions for the identification of CKD-732 metabolites were observed at m/z 231, 236, and 252. The fragment ions at m/z 236 and 252 indicated the unchanged form and the N-oxide of the dimethylaminoethoxycinnamoyl group, respectively. The ion at m/z 231 indicated the presence of the hydroxylated form of the fumagillol group. The N-oxide of CKD-732, which was detected at m/z 515 and eluted later than CKD-732 in the reversed-phase HPLC system, was measured as a major metabolite. Three cis-trans isomers were also found.     

Identification of bupropion urinary metabolites by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Human urinary metabolism of the antidepressant bupropion was studied using liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOFMS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). A total of 20 metabolites were detected and identified. The phase I metabolism included formation of morpholinohydroxybupropion, threo- and erythrohydrobupropion, aromatic hydroxylation, butyl group hydroxylation with ketone hydrogenation and dihydroxylation. These metabolites were detected either as the free form or as glucuronide and/or sulphate conjugates. In addition also m-chlorohippuric acid was detected. Of the phase I metabolites, a dihydroxylation to the aromatic ring and to the methyl group in the middle of the substrate molecule was reported here for the first time, as well as eight of the glucuronide conjugates (to hydroxy, dihydroxy, hydroxy and hydrogenation metabolites) and three of the sulphate conjugates (to aromatic hydroxy and hydroxy and hydrogenation metabolites).     

Quantification of cyclophosphamide and its metabolites in urine using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A reliable and easy to use liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of urinary concentrations of cyclophosphamide (CP) and its main metabolites excreted in urine, i.e. N-dechloroethylcyclophosphamide (DCL-CP), 4-ketocyclophosphamide (4KetoCP), and carboxyphosphamide (CarboxyCP). Sample preparation consisted of dilution of urine with an aqueous solution of the internal standard D(4)-CP and methanol, and centrifugation. LC/MS/MS detection was performed using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer working in selected reaction monitoring mode. All analytes were quantified in a single run within 11.5 min. The limits of detection were 5 ng/mL for CP and 4KetoCP, 1 ng/mL for DCL-CP, and 30 ng/mL for CarboxyCP. Quantification ranges were adjusted to the expected concentrations in 24-h urine collections of patients treated with a polychemotherapy regimen (3-175 microg/mL for CP, 0.5-27 microg/mL for 4KetoCP and 0.17-9 microg/mL for CarboxyCP and DCL-CP, respectively). The method was validated according to international guidelines of the ICH and the FDA.     

Quantitative analysis of eight testosterone metabolites using column switching and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The rate at which testosterone is metabolized to different singly hydroxylated metabolites has been widely used as an in vitro marker for activity of different CYP450 enzymes. The interest in extra-hepatic metabolism, e.g. due to metabolism in the gut wall, has increased during the last decade. Measurement of extra-hepatic enzyme activity using testosterone as a substrate requires a highly sensitive analytical method. A new liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method, using column switching for online cleaning and desalting of samples, was developed and validated for analysis of 2alpha-, 2beta-, 6alpha-, 6beta-, 7alpha-, 16alpha-, and 16beta-hydroxytestosterone and androstenedione. The samples were injected on a SB-CN column and detection was performed using MS/MS. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.3 to 3.33 nM for the different metabolites. The validated method was used to quantify the enzyme activity in rat intestine mucosa. The formation rates of 16alpha-, 16beta-hydroxytestosterone and androstenedione were quantified, and 2beta-and 6beta-hydroxytestosterone were formed above the limits of detection.     

Dissipation of carbendazim and its metabolites in cucumber using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Currently, there is growing interest in the degradation pathways of organic contaminants such as pesticides. In the case of pesticides, the determination of metabolites in agricultural products and environment is necessary as some of them could present similar toxicity to or even higher toxicity than the parent compound. The development of analytical methodology for the identification and quantification of carbendazim fungicide and its metabolites in cucumber was studied. Cucumber (cucumis sativus) is a global food in terms of economic importance and nutritional quality. Careful optimisation of the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS parameters was achieved in order to attain a fast separation with the best sensitivity. The detection was carried out on an Ion-Trap tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) by electrospray ionisation in positive ion mode (ESI+) with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).     

Direct measurement of urinary testosterone and epitestosterone conjugates using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Measurement of the ratio of testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (E) in urine has been used as an indication of 'natural' steroid supplementation for a decade. The direct measurement of the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of testosterone and epitestosterone by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) should resolve a number of issues regarding unusual metabolism due to either genetic disposition or attempts to avoid detection of abuse. Determination of nanomoles per liter (0.1 ppb) concentrations of analytes in a complex biological matrix by HPLC/MS/MS is complicated by sample matrix-specific ion suppression during ESI. Deuterated internal standards of all compounds were used to overcome the effects of suppression. Comparison of the HPLC/MS/MS method with a two-part gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method showed statistical equivalence in urine samples. Analysis of urine samples with elevated T-glucuronide to E-glucuronide ratios did not show that a significant number could be explained by an elevated excretion of epitestosterone sulfate. The HPLC/MS/MS method was also used further to characterize genetic and metabolic factors that give rise to unusual T/E ratios.     

High-throughput chiral liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Chiral liquid chromatography is a well-established area of bioanalytical chemistry and is often used during the processes of drug discovery and development. The development and use of a chiral drug require the understanding of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of each of the enantiomers, including potential differences in their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Chromatographic techniques coupled to atmospheric pressure ionization-tandem mass spectrometry have shown potential as sensitive and robust tools in the quantitative and qualitative determination of enantiomers in biologic fluids and tissue extracts. However, development of a chiral liquid chromatography method requires time-consuming procedures that are devised empirically. Clearly, there is an incentive to design chromatographic approaches that are easy to use, compatible with mass spectrometry ionization interface conditions, exhibit relatively short run times without compromising sensitivity, and offer a broad analyte specificity. For these reasons, the present paper explores the feasibility of the bonded macrocyclic glycopeptide phases (teicoplanin and vancomycin) for analysis by chiral liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Ritalinic acid, pindolol, fluoxetine, oxazepam, propranolol, terbutaline, metoprolol, and nicardipine were tested in this study. Furthermore, an example of a simultaneous chiral LC/MS/MS detection (chromatographic run time approximately 10 min) of four pharmaceutical products resulting in baseline resolutions of all four pairs of enantiomers is presented. Methanol, an MS-compatible mobile phase, was utilized in all the experiments.     

Structural characterization of reactive dyes using liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry/tandem mass spectrometry

Reactive Blue 19 (RB 19), its reactive form (RB 19-VS) and its hydrolyzed form (RB 19-OH) were examined using liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry/tandem mass spectrometry (LSIMS/MS/MS) in the negative-ion mode under low-energy collision conditions (240–300 eV). Structurally characteristic fragment ions were obtained, none of which has been previously reported for these reactive dyes. Among the ions obtained were SO₃^? ions, ions due to central amino cleavage and reactive group cleavage, and ions due to loss of SO₃ and SO₂. Possible pathways for the formation of product ions are proposed. The structural information obtained should help to characterize and identify reactive dyes better.     

Characterization of metabolites of Celecoxib in rabbits by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The metabolism of the anti-inflammatory drug Celecoxib in rabbits was characterized using liquid chromatography (LC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with precursor ion and constant neutral loss scans followed by product ion scans. After separation by on-line liquid chromatography, the crude urine samples and plasma and fecal extracts were analyzed with turbo-ionspray ionization in negative ion mode using a precursor ion scan of m/z 69 (CF(3)) and a neutral loss scan of 176 (dehydroglucuronic acid). The subsequent product ion scans of the [M - H] ions of these metabolites yielded the identification of three phase I and four phase II metabolites. The phase I metabolites had hydroxylations at the methyl group or on the phenyl ring of Celecoxib, and the subsequent oxidation product of the hydroxymethyl metabolite formed the carboxylic acid metabolite. The phase II metabolites included four positional isomers of acyl glucuronide conjugates of the carboxylic acid metabolite. These positional isomers were caused by the alkaline pH of the rabbit urine and were not found in rabbit plasma. The chemical structures of the metabolites were characterized by interpretation of their product ion spectra and comparison of their LC retention times and the product ion spectra with those of the authentic synthesized standards.     

Analysis of urinary aromatic acids by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The separation and detection of 11 urinary aromatic acids was developed using HPLC-MS/MS. The method features a simple sample preparation involving a single-step dilution with internal standard and a rapid 8 min chromatographic separation. The accuracy was evaluated by the recovery of known spikes between 87 and 110%. Inter- and intra-assay precision (CV) was below 11% in all cases and the analytes were observed to be stable for up to 8 weeks when stored at -20 degrees C. The method was validated based upon linearity, accuracy, precision and stability and was used to establish reference intervals for children and adults.     

Determination of nandrolone metabolites in human urine: comparison between liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Nandrolone (19‐nortestosterone) is an androgenic anabolic steroid illegally used as a growth‐promoting agent in animal breeding and as a performance enhancer in athletics. Therefore, its use was officially banned in 1974 by the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Following nandrolone administration, the main metabolites in humans are 19‐norandrosterone, 19‐norethiocolanolone and 19‐norepiandrosterone, and their presence in urine is the basis of detecting its abuse. The present work was undertaken to determine, in human urine, nandrolone metabolites (phase I and phase II) by developing and comparing multiresidue liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods. A double extraction by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) was necessary for the complete elimination of the interfering compounds. The proposed methods were also tested on a real positive sample, and they allow us to determine the conjugated/free fractions ratio reducing the risk of false positive or misleading results and they should allow laboratories involved in doping control analysis to monitor the illegal use of steroids. The advantages of LC/MS/MS over GC/MS (which is the technique mainly used) include the elimination of the hydrolysis and derivatization steps: it is known that during enzymatic hydrolysis several steroids can be converted into related compounds and deconjugation is not always 100% effective. The validation parameters for the two methods were similar (limit of quantification (LOQ) <1 ng/mL and percentage coefficient of variance (CV%) <16.4), and both were able to confirm unambiguously all the analytes, thus confirming the validity of both techniques. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of rat brain neurotransmitters and metabolites using liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and comparison with liquid chromatography/electrochemical detection

Analytical methodology based on solid-phase extraction, polar reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with isotope dilution was developed and validated for quantifying the neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, and their major metabolites in brain tissue. Limits of detection (0.1-20 pg/mg tissue) were sufficient for analysis of multiple neurotransmitters in rat brain regions, including parietal cortex, hypothalamus, pituitary, substantia nigra, and striatum. Method performance was compared with contemporaneous measurements using a well-established procedure based on ion-pairing reversed-phase liquid chromatography and amperometric detection. The principal advantages of the LC/MS/MS method include a more robust sample purification procedure, an optimized chromatographic separation, and the qualitative and quantitative assurance that comes from coeluting isotopically labeled internal standards; however, sensitivity did not consistently improve upon that provided by amperometric detection. This methodology may be particularly useful for applications in which simultaneous determinations are required for drugs and their affected neurotransmitters in specific brain regions.     

Determination of iodoacetic acid using liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid analytical method based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using electrospray ionization in negative ion detection mode was developed for the analysis of underivatized iodoacetic acid in water. The method was applied to model reaction mixtures in the study of the formation of iodoacetic acid after chlorinated tap water was boiled in the presence of potassium iodide or iodized table salt. Samples can be directly analyzed by the LC/MS/MS system without extraction or chemical derivatization. Limit of detection was determined to be 0.3 microg/L (or 0.3 ng/mL) and limit of quantitation was about 1 microg/L (1 ng/mL).     

Proteomic profiling of human urinary proteome using nano-high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Urine, a blood filtrate produced by the urinary system, is an ideal bio-sample and a rich source of biomarkers for diagnostic information. Many components in urine are useful in clinical diagnosis, and urinary proteins can be strong indication for many diseases such as proteinuria, kidney, bladder and urinary tract diseases. To enhance our understanding of urinary proteome, the urine proteins were prepared by different sample cleanup preparation methods and identified by nano-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry followed by peptide fragmentation pattern. The experimental results demonstrated that a total of 2283 peptides, corresponding to 311 unique proteins, were identified from human urine samples, in which 104 proteins with higher confidence levels. The present study was designed to establish optimal techniques to create a proteomic map of normal urinary proteins. Also, a discussion of novel approaches to urine protein cleanup and constituents is given.     

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry separation of water-soluble metabolites

Off-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (2D-LC/MS-MS) was used to separate a set of metabolomic species. Water-soluble metabolites were extracted from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisae cultures and were immediately analyzed using strong cation exchange (SCX)-hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Metabolite mixtures are well-suited for multidimensional chromatography as the range of components varies widely with respect to polarity and chemical makeup. Some currently used methods employ two different separations for the detection of positively and negatively ionized metabolites by mass spectrometry. Here we developed a single set of chromatographic conditions for both ionization modes and were able to detect a total of 141 extracted metabolite species, with an overall peak capacity of ca. 2500. We show that a single two-dimensional separation method is sufficient and practical when a pair or more of unidimensional separations are used in metabolomics.     

Structural characterization of sulfonated azo dyes using liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry/tandem mass spectrometry

Eight monosulfonated and disulfonated azo dyes were analyzed using liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry/tandem mass spectrometry, in the negative ion mode, under low-energy collision conditions (110–150 eV). Many structurally characteristic fragment ions were obtained, several of which have not been reported previously using other mass spectrometric techniques. Among the structurally important ions observed were those due to loss of SO₂, SO₃ and various aromatic substituents, such as NO₂ and NHCOCH₃. Losses of N₂ were also proposed. In addition, product ions due to cleavage at the azo linkage were observed, and also SO₃^? and HSO₃^? ions. Several of the azo cleavage product ions detected did not contain sulfonate groups. Possible pathways for the formation of product ions are proposed. The structural information obtained should help to better characterize and identify sulfonated azo dyes in the future.     

Characterization of in vitro metabolites of rutaecarpine in rat liver microsomes using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Following incubation of rutaecarpine, a new cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, with rat liver microsomes, the structures of the metabolites were characterized by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Nine metabolites corresponding to mono- or dihydroxylated rutaecarpine were formed. Characteristic product ions for the identification of rutaecarpine metabolites were observed at m/z 136, 158 and 286. The loss of water led to the fragment ion at m/z 286, indicating the hydroxylation of the aliphatic ring. The fragment ion at m/z 136 indicated the hydroxylated form of the phenyl group of the quinazolinone moiety, while that at m/z 158 indicated the hydroxylated form of the aromatic ring of the indole moiety.