Dansyl amino acid enantiomer separation on a teicoplanin chiral stationary phase: effect of eluent pH

A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of loratadine and its major active metabolite descarboethoxyloratadine (DCL) in plasma was developed, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The samples were extracted from plasma with toluene followed by back-extraction into formic acid (2%) for DCL after which the toluene containing the loratadine was evaporated, the analyte reconstituted and combined with the DCL back-extract. Chromatography was performed on a Phenomenex Luna C18 (2) 5-microm, 150x2.1-mm column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid using gradient elution (10 to 90% acetonitrile in 2 min) at a flow-rate of 0.3 ml/min. Detection was achieved by a Perkin-Elmer API 2000 mass spectrometer (LC-MS-MS) set at unit resolution in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. TurbolonSpray ionisation was used for ion production. The mean recovery for loratadine and descarboethoxyloratadine was 61 and 100%, respectively, with a lower limit of quantification at 0.10 ng/ml for both the analyte and its metabolite. This is the first assay method described for the simultaneous determination of loratadine and descarboethoxyloratadine in plasma using one chromatographic run. The method is sensitive and reproducible enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Development of a rapid and sensitive SPE-LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous estimation of fluoxetine and olanzapine in human plasma

A high‐performance liquid chromatographic assay with tandem mass spectrometric detection was developed to simultaneously quantify fluoxetine and olanzapine in human plasma. The analytes and the internal standard (IS) duloxetine were extracted from 500 μL aliquots of human plasma through solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved in a run time of 4.0 min on a Hypersil Gold C₁₈ column (50 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–water containing 2% formic acid (70:30, v/v), at a flow‐rate of 0.5 mL/min. Detection of analytes and internal standard was performed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, operating in positive‐ion and multiple reaction monitoring acquisition mode. The protonated precursor to product ion transitions monitored for fluoxetine, olanzapine and IS were m/z 310.01 → 147.69, 313.15 → 256.14 and 298.1 → 153.97, respectively. The method was validated over the concentration range of 1.00–150.20 ng/mL for fluoxetine and 0.12–25.03 ng/mL for olanzapine in human plasma. The intra‐batch and inter‐batch precision (%CV) across four quality control levels was ≤6.28% for both the analytes. In conclusion, a simple and sensitive analytical method was developed and validated in human plasma. This method is suitable for measuring accurate plasma concentration in bioequivalence study and therapeutic drug monitoring as well, following combined administration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of piperaquine and its N‐oxidated metabolite in rat plasma using LC‐MS/MS

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).     

Simultaneous quantification of curdione,furanodiene and germacrone in rabbit plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A simple, rapid and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of curdione, furanodiene and germacrone in rabbit plasma using a LC‐MS/MS analysis. The plasma sample preparation was a simple deproteinization by the addition of 3 vols of acetonitrile followed by centrifugation. The analytes and internal standard (IS) costunolide were separated on a Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column (3.5 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm) with mobile phase of methanol–water (90:10, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min with an operating temperature of 25°C. Detection was carried out by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in positive ion selected reaction monitoring mode. Linear detection responses were obtained for the three test compounds ranging from 5 to 5000 ng/mL and the lower limits of quantitation were 5‐10ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (relative standard deviations) were within 9.4% for all analytes, while the deviation of assay accuracies was within ±10.0%. The average recoveries of analytes were >80.0%. All analytes were proved to be stable during all sample storage, preparation and analytical procedures. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the three compounds after vaginal drug delivery of Baofukang suppository to rabbit. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative determination of acidic hydrolysis products of Chemical Weapons Convention related chemicals from aqueous and soil samples using ion‐pair solid‐phase extraction and in situ butylation

Chemical warfare agents such as organophosphorus nerve agents, mustard agents, and psychotomimetic agent like 3‐quinuclidinylbenzilate degrade in the environment and form acidic degradation products, the analysis of which is difficult under normal analytical conditions. In the present work, a simultaneous extraction and derivatization method in which the analytes are butylated followed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometric identification of the analytes from aqueous and soil samples was carried out. The extraction was carried out using ion‐pair solid‐phase extraction with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in the electron ionization mode. Various parameters such as optimum concentration of the ion‐pair reagent, pH of the sample, extraction solvent, and type of ion‐pair reagent were optimized. The method was validated for various parameters such as linearity, accuracy, precision, and limit of detection and quantification. The method was observed to be linear from 1 to 1000 ng/mL range in selected ion monitoring mode. The extraction recoveries were in the range of 85–110% from the matrixes with the limit of quantification for alkyl phosphonic acids at 1 ng/mL, thiodiglycolic acid at 20 ng/mL, and benzilic acid at 50 ng/mL with intra‐ and interday precisions below 15%. The developed method was applied for the samples prepared in the scenario of challenging inspection.     

Rapid micellar HPLC analysis of loratadine and its major metabolite desloratadine in nano-concentration range using monolithic column and fluorometric detection: application to pharmaceuticals and biological fluids

Background

Loratadine is a commonly used selective non-sedating antihistaminic drug. Desloratadine is the active metabolite of loratadine and, in addition, a potential impurity in loratadine bulk powder stated by the United States Pharmacopeia as a related substance of loratadine. Published methods for the determination of both analytes suffer from limited throughput due to the time-consuming steps and tedious extraction procedures needed for the analysis of biological samples. Therefore, there is a strong demand to develop a simple rapid and sensitive analytical method that can detect and quantitate both analytes in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids without prior sample extraction steps.

Results

A highly-sensitive and time-saving micellar liquid chromatographic method is developed for the simultaneous determination of loratadine and desloratadine. The proposed method is the first analytical method for the determination of this mixture using a monolithic column with a mobile phase composed of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulfate, 10% n-Butanol and 0.3% triethylamine in 0.02 M phosphoric acid, adjusted to pH 3.5 and pumped at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. The eluted analytes are monitored with fluorescence detection at 440 nm after excitation at 280 nm. The developed method is linear over the concentration range of 20.0–200.0 ng/mL for both analytes. The method detection limits are 15.0 and 13.0 ng/mL and the limits of quantification are 20.0 and 18.0 ng/mL for loratadine and desloratadine, respectively. Validation of the developed method reveals an accuracy of higher than 97% and intra- and inter-day precisions with relative standard deviations not exceeding 2%.

Conclusions

The method can be successfully applied to the determination of both analytes in various matrices including pharmaceutical preparations, human urine, plasma and breast milk samples with a run-time of less than 5 min and without prior extraction procedures. The method is ideally suited for use in quality control laboratories. Moreover, it could be a simple time-saving alternative to the official pharmacopeial method for testing desloratadine as a potential impurity in loratadine bulk powder.

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Graphical abstract Typical chromatogram of loratadine and its major metabolite desloratadine using the proposed micellar HPLC method

     

Determination of sodium cromoglycate in human plasma by liquid chromatography with tandem mass

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) in human plasma after a nasal dose of 10.4 mg sodium cromoglycate nasal spray, using pravastatin sodium as the internal standard. The method was validated over a linear range of 0.300-20.0 ng/mL. SCG and I.S. were extracted from 1.0 mL of heparinized plasma by C(18) solid-phase extraction cartridges using methanol as eluting solvent. The dried residue was reconstituted with 100 microL of mobile phase, and 10 microL was injected onto the LC-MS/MS system. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size) with a mobile phase of methanol-acetonitrile-water (containing 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate; 42.5:42.5:15, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The analytes were detected with a triple quad LC-MS/MS using ESI with positive ionization. Ions monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring mode were m/z 469.0 (precursor ion) to m/z 245.0 (product ion) for SCG and m/z 447.2 (precursor ion) to m/z327.1 (product ion) for pravastatin sodium (internal standard) The average recovery of SCG from human plasma was 94.88% and the lower limit of quantitation was 0.3 ng/mL. Results from a 3-day validation study demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy across the calibration range of 0.3-20 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of SCG in healthy Chinese volunteers. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Determination of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine enantiomers in human plasma by polypyrrole-coated capillary in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled with liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection

A sensitive, selective, and reproducible in-tube polypyrrole-coated capillary (PPY) solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatographic method for fluoxetine and norfluoxetine enantiomers analysis in plasma samples has been developed, validated, and further applied to the analysis of plasma samples from elderly patients undergoing therapy with antidepressants. Important factors in the optimization of in-tube SPME efficiency are discussed, including the sample draw/eject volume, draw/eject cycle number, draw/eject flow-rate, sample pH, and influence of plasma proteins. Separation of the analytes was achieved with a Chiralcel OD-R column and a mobile phase consisting of potassium hexafluorophosphate 7.5 mM and sodium phosphate 0.25 M solution, pH 3.0, and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) in the isocratic mode, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection was carried out by fluorescence absorbance at Ex/Em 230/290 nm. The multifunctional porous surface structure of the PPY-coated film provided high precision and accuracy for enantiomers. Compared with other commercial capillaries, PPY-coated capillary showed better extraction efficiency for all the analytes. The quantification limits of the proposed method were 10 ng/mL for R- and S-fluoxetine, and 15 ng/mL for R- and S-norfluoxetine, with a coefficient of variation lower than 13%. The response of the method for enantiomers is linear over a dynamic range, from the limit of quantification to 700 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.9940. The in-tube SPME/LC method can therefore be successfully used to analyze plasma samples from ageing patients undergoing therapy with fluoxetine.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定动物血浆中21种霉菌毒素或其代谢物残留

建立了同时检测动物血浆中黄曲霉毒素B1等21种霉菌毒素或其代谢物残留的液相色谱-串联质谱方法.动物血浆样品中加入0.1％甲酸-乙腈溶液、NaCl和无水MgSO4进行萃取,无水MgSO4和C18,PSA,A-AL对提取液进行脱水净化,经浓缩、复溶和离心后,再进行测定.采用反相C18色谱柱分离,以0.1％甲酸-0.5 mmol/L乙酸铵溶液和0.1％甲酸-甲醇溶液作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,采用电喷雾离子源(ESI)多反应监测离子模式(MRM)进行检测,基质标准曲线外标法进行定量分析,线性范围在0.05 ～ 100 ng/mL之间,方法的定量限为0.05 ～0.5 ng/mL.在高、中、低3个添加浓度水平下,21种霉菌毒素的平均回收率为62.0％ ～ 116.4％,相对标准偏差小于19％.     

Simultaneous determination of harpagoside and cinnamic acid in rat plasma by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of harpagoside and cinnamic acid in rat plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a negative ion electrospray mass spectrometric analysis. The plasma sample preparation was a simple deproteinization by the addition of two volumes of acetonitrile. The analytes were separated on an Intersil C8-3 column (2.1 mm i.d.x250 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-5 mm ammonium formate aqueous solution (60:40, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 0.2 mL/min. Detection was performed on a quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated under selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. [M+HCOO]- at m/z 539 for harpagoside, [M-H]- at m/z 147 for cinnamic acid and [M-H]- at m/z 137 for salylic acid (internal standard) were selected as detecting ions, respectively. The method was validated over the concentration range 7-250 ng/mL for harpagoside and 5-500 ng/mL for cinnamic acid. The lower limits of quantitation for harpagoside and cinnamic acid were 7 and 5 ng/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD%) were within 9.5% and the assay accuracies (RE%) ranged from -5.3 to 3.0% for both analytes. Their average recoveries were greater than 86%. Both analytes were proved to be stable during all sample storage, preparation and analysis procedures. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of harpagoside and cinnamic acid following oral administration of Radix Scrophulariae extract to rats.     

Trace analysis of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with antipsychotic drugs for Alzheimer’s disease by capillary electrophoresis with on column field-amplified sample injection

A simple and sensitive capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with UV detection (214 nm) was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI), donepezil, and rivastigmine, with antipsychotic drugs in plasma. A sample pretreatment by liquid–liquid extraction and subsequent quantification by CZE with field-amplified sample injection (FASI) was used. The optimum separation for these analytes was achieved in <20 min at 25 °C with a fused-silica capillary column of 60.2 cm?×?50 μm I.D. (effective length 50 cm) and a run buffer containing 120 mM phosphate (pH 4.0) with 0.1 % γ-cyclodextrin, 40 % methanol (MeOH), and 0.02 % polyvinyl alcohol as a dynamic coating to reduce analytes’ interaction with the capillary wall. Using phenformin as an internal standard (40.0 ng/mL), the linear ranges of the proposed method for the simultaneous determination of donepezil, rivastigmine, aripiprazole, quetiapine, risperidone, clozapine, ziprasidone, and trazodone were over the range 4.0–80.0 ng/mL, and olanzapine was over the range 1.0–20.0 ng/mL. The method was applied for concentrations monitoring of AChEIs and antipsychotic drugs in ten Alzheimer’s disease patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia after oral administration of the commercial products.

Simultaneous quantification of oxysophocarpine and its active metabolite sophocarpine in rat plasma by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive, rapid and specific method for the simultaneous quantification of oxysophocarpine (OSC) and its active metabolite sophocarpine (SC) in rat plasma was developed and validated, using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS) analysis. The separation was performed on a Zorbax Extend-C(18) column (2.1 mm i.d. x 50 mm, 5 microm) with a C(18) guard column using methanol-water containing 5 mm ammonium acetate (15:85, v/v) as mobile phase. Analysis was performed in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. [M + H](+) at m/z 263 for OSC, [M + H](+) at m/z 247 for SC and [M + H](+) at m/z 249 for matrine (internal standard) were selected as detecting ions, respectively. The method was linear in the concentration ranges 10-1000 ng/mL for OSC and 5-500 ng/mL for SC. The intra- and inter-day precisions (coefficient of variation) were within 7% for both analytes. Their accuracy (relative error) ranged from -6.4 to 1.5%. The limits of detection for OSC and SC were 3 and 1.5 ng/mL, respectively. The limits of quantitation for OSC and SC were 10 and 5 ng/mL, respectively. Recoveries of both analytes were greater than 85% at the low, medium and high concentrations. Both analytes were stable during all sample storage, preparation and analytic procedures. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after an oral administration of OSC to rats with a dose of 15 mg/kg.     

Simultaneous determination of estramustine phosphate and its four metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography-ionspray mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective method, using liquid chromatography-ionspray mass spectrometry, was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of Estracyt (estramustine phosphate) and its four metabolites, estramustine, estromustine, estrone and estradiol, in human plasma. Deuterated internal standards were available for all analytes. The five compounds were extracted from plasma by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Zorbax SB C18, (150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm) reversed-phase column under gradient conditions with a mobile phase containing 2 mm ammonium acetate buffer (pH 6.8) and acetonitrile. MS detection was by electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring in the positive ion mode for estramustine phosphate, estromustine and estramustine, and in the negative ion mode for estrone and estradiol. The limit of quantitation was 10 ng/mL for estramustine phosphate, 3 ng/mL for estromustine, estramustine and estrone and 30 ng/mL for estradiol. Linearity was verified from these LLOQs up to about 4000 ng/mL for the parent drug and 2000 ng/mL for the metabolites. Inter-day precision and accuracy values were all less than 15%. This assay was applied successfully to the routine analysis of human plasma samples collected in cancer patients administered estramustine phosphate intravenously.     

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of lercanidipine in human plasma

A simple, sensitive and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography/positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the determination of lercanidipine in human plasma. Lercanidipine and the internal standard, nicardipine, were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using tert-butyl methyl ether as the extraction solvent. UPLC analysis was performed isocratically on an AcQuity UPLC BEH C18 analytical column (2.1 x 50.0 mm i.d., particle size 1.7 microm). The mobile phase consisted of 70% acetonitrile in water containing 0.2% v/v formic acid and pumped at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min. ESI in positive ion mode, with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), was chosen for the detection of the analytes. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 0.05-30 ng/mL for lercanidipine with a limit of quantitation of 0.05 ng/mL. Quality control samples (0.05, 0.15, 15 and 25 ng/mL) in five replicates from five of analytical runs demonstrated intra-assay precision (% CV < or =7.3%), inter-assay precision (% CV < or =6.1%) and an overall accuracy (% relative error) of less than 6.2%. A run time of less than 1.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze a large number of human plasma samples per day. The method can be used to quantify lercanidipine in human plasma covering a variety of pharmacokinetic or bioequivalence studies.     

Online restricted‐access material combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of vanillin and its vanillic acid metabolite in human plasma

An automated online solid‐phase extraction with restricted‐access material combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of vanillin and its vanillic acid metabolite in human plasma. After protein precipitation by methanol, which contained the internal standards, the supernatant of plasma samples was injected to the system, the endogenous large molecules were flushed out, and target analytes were trapped and enriched on the adsorbent, resulting in a minimization of sample complexity and ion suppression effects. Calibration curves were linear over the concentrations of 5–1000 ng/mL for vanillin and 10–5000 ng/mL for vanillic acid with a coefficient of determination >0.999 for the determined compounds. The lower limits of quantification of vanillin and vanillic acid were 5.0 and 10.0 ng/mL, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐run precisions expressed as the relative standard deviation were 2.6–8.6 and 3.2–10.2%, respectively, and the accuracies expressed as the relative error were in the range of –6.1 to 7.3%. Extraction recoveries of analytes were between 89.5 and 97.4%. There was no notable matrix effect for any analyte concentration. The developed method was proved to be sensitive, repeatable, and accurate for the quantification of vanillin and its vanillic acid metabolite in human plasma.     

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous quantification of urapidil and aripiprazole in human plasma and its application to human pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of urapidil and aripiprazole in human plasma. A simple liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was used for the sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Phenomenex C₁₈ (4.6 × 50 mm, 5 µm) column with 0.1% formic acid–acetonitrile (10:90, v/v) as the mobile phase with flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The quantitation of the target compounds was determined in a positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode. Calibration plots were linear over the range of 2.0–2503.95 ng/mL for urapidil and 1.0–500.19 ng/mL for aripiprazole. The lower limit of quantitation for urapidil and aripiprazole was 2.0 and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. Mean recovery was in the range of 69.94–75.62% for both analytes and internal standards. Intra‐day and inter‐day precisions of the assay at three concentrations were 2.56–5.89% with accuracy of 92.31–97.83% for urapidil, and 3.14–6.84% with accuracy of 91.38–94.42% for aripiprazole. The method was successfully applied to human pharmacokinetic study of urapidil and aripiprazole in healthy human male volunteers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of Ginsenoside Rg2 in Rat Plasma by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry after Solid‐Phase Extraction

Abstract

A sensitive liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometric (LC/MS) method for the quantification of ginsenoside Rg2 (Rg2) in rat plasma was developed after solid‐phase extraction (SPE). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed‐phase Kromasil C₁₈ column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile‐ammonium chloride (500 µM/L) and step gradient elution resulted in a total run time of about 9 min. The analytes were detected using electrospray negative ionization mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. A good linear relationship was obtained in the concentration range (5–2500 ng/mL) (r=0.9999). Limit of quantification (LOQ) was 5 ng/mL and the limit of detection (LOD) was 2 ng/mL using 100 µL plasma sample. Average recoveries ranged from 72.43–84.73% in plasma at the concentrations of 20, 200, and 2000 ng/mL. Intra‐ and interday coefficients of variation for the assay were 4.93–10.87% and 4.06–7.84%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of ginsenoside Rg2 in rat plasma. The applicability of this assay was examined in a preliminary pharmacokinetic study of ginsenoside Rg2 in rats.     

Quantitative determination of galantamine in human plasma by sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using loratadine as an internal standard

A simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is developed and validated for the quantitation of galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor in human plasma, using a commercially available compound, loratadine, as the internal standard. Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes are separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse-phase C18 column and analyzed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective (M+H)+ ions, m/z 288 to 213 for galantamine and m/z 383 and 337 for the internal standard. The assay exhibit a linear dynamic range of 0.5-100 ng/mL for galantamine in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation is 0.5 ng/mL, with a relative standard deviation of less than 8%. Acceptable precision and accuracy are obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. A run time of 2.5 min for each sample makes it possible to analyze more than 400 human plasma samples per day. The validated method is successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailability, or bioequivalence studies.     

Evaluation and performance of desorption electrospray ionization using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for quantitation of pharmaceuticals in plasma

The present work describes the methodology and investigates the performance of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) combined with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for the quantitation of small drug molecules in human plasma. Amoxepine, atenolol, carbamazepine, clozapine, prazosin, propranolol and verapamil were selected as target analytes while terfenadine was selected as the internal standard common to each of the analytes. Protein precipitation of human plasma using acetonitrile was utilized for all samples. Limits of detection were determined for all analytes in plasma and shown to be in the range 0.2–40 ng/mL. Quantitative analysis of amoxepine, prazosin and verapamil was performed over the range 20–7400 ng/mL and shown to be linear in all cases with R² >0.99. In most cases, the precision (relative standard deviation) and accuracy (relative error) of each method were less than or equal to 20%, respectively. The performance of the combined techniques made it possible to analyze each sample in 15 s illustrating DESI tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) as powerful tool for the quantitation of analytes in deproteinized human plasma. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.