European Journal of Mass Spectrometry 2011-01-01

Simultaneous determination of six phenolic constituents of Danshen injection in rat plasma by LC-ESI-MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Di Zhao, De-en Han, Ning Li, Yang Lu, Ting-ting Li, Suo-ye Yang, Jia-ke He, Xi-jing Chen

Index: Eur. J. Mass Spectrom. (Chichester, Eng.) 17(4) , 395-403, (2011)

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Abstract

Salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B, danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, rosmarinic acid and lithospermic acid are the six major active constituents in Danshen injection. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of these compounds in rat plasma was developed. After a single step of liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, they were eluted by a Hypersil C18 column (5 µm, i.d. 4.6 × 200 mm) within 4 min with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid water solution (35:65, v/v). The assay was linear in the concentration range of 0.05-10 µg mL(-1). Absolute recoveries were above 60%. The precisions and accuracies determined within three consecutive days were within acceptable limits. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after an intravenous administration of Danshen injection.