Ultra high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacokinetic analysis of justicidin B and 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C in rats

• Published in: Journal of separation science 2017-02, Vol.40 (3), p.604-611
• Main Authors: Luo, Jiaoyang, Hu, Yichen, Qin, Jia'an, Yang, Meihua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C; Animals; Chromatography; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dioxolanes - analysis; Dioxolanes - blood; Dioxolanes - pharmacokinetics; Half-Life; Herbal medicine; Herbs; Justicia procumbens; justicidin B; Kinetics; Lignans - analysis; Lignans - blood; Lignans - pharmacokinetics; Limit of Detection; Liquids; Mass spectrometry; Methyl alcohol; pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reproducibility of Results; Separation; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; traditional Chinese medicine
• ISSN: 1615-9306; 1615-9314
• DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201600961

Arylnaphthalene lignans have attracted considerable interest with the discovery of their antineoplastic activities. Two such compounds are justicidin B and 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C, both of which have been isolated from the herb Justicia procumbens. We sought to develop and validate a sensitive and accurate, ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method for the structural determination and pharmacokinetics of justicidin B and 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent 300SB‐C18 column using water (0.5% formic acid, 10 mM NH4COOH) methanol as the mobile phase. The plasma samples obtained after oral administration of the active extract of Justicia procumbens were successfully analyzed with our novel method, thereby demonstrating its sound applicability and reliability. The lower limit of quantification for justicidin B and 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C was 0.50 and 1.00 ng/mL in 50 μL rat plasma, respectively. The elimination half‐life and clearance of justicidin B was estimated to be 1.27 ± 0.61 h and 5.40 ± 0.22 L/h/kg while that of 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C was 2.07 ± 0.70 h and 11.84 ± 1.06 L/h/kg. This newly developed and validated method was successfully applied to the quantification and pharmacokinetic study of justicidin B and 6′‐hydroxy justicidin C in rats.