Development and validation of a UPLC‐MS/MS method for the determination of cucurbitacin B in rat plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study. (2nd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Waiou; Xu, Dahai; Yan, Weiwei; Wang, Yushi; Zhang, Nan
• Is Part Of: Biomedical chromatography. Volume 30:Number 4(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 503
• Page End: 507
• Publication Date: 2015-09-02
• Subjects: cucurbitacin B -- UPLC‐MS/MS -- pharmacokinetic study; Chromatographic analysis -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Chromatography -- methods -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 543.089
• DOI: 10.1002/bmc.3571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-3879

Abstract

Abstract: Cucurbitacin B (CuB), one of the most abundant forms of cucurbitacins, is a promising natural anticancer drug candidate. Although the anticancer activity of CuB has been well demonstrated, information regarding the pharmacokinetics is limited. A rapid, selective and sensitive UPLC‐MS/MS for CuB was developed and validated using hemslecin A (HeA) as internal standard (IS). Plasma samples were pre‐treated by liquid–liquid extraction with dichloromethane. Separation was achieved on a reversed‐phase C18 column (50 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) at 35°C using isocratic elution with water–methanol (25:75, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The analytes were monitored by a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization mode. The calibration curve was linear ( r > 0.995) in a concentration range of 0.3–100 ng/mL with a limit of quantification of 0.3 ng/mL. Intra‐ and inter‐day accuracy and precision were validated by percentage relative error and relative standard deviation, respectively, which were both lower than the limit of 15%. This assay was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of CuB in Wistar rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.