Simultaneous determination of eight bioactive components in Marsdenia tenacissima extract in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application in a pharmacokinetic study

As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn. plays an indispensable role in clinical practice due to its specific efficacy in treating malignant tumors, leukocythemia, cystitis and asthma. This study aimed to establish a novel and scientific LC-MS/MS approach to simultaneously determine tenacissoside B,H,G,I, caffeic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid from M. tenacissima extract within the rat plasma samples. Digoxin was used as the internal reference. All determinations were carried out using the Eclipse Plus C18 column, and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) was used as the mobile phase A, while acetonitrile as the mobile phase B for gradient elution. The UPLC methods, including calibration curves, accuracy, precision, stability and recovery of the total eight analytes were validated in accordance with the requirements for biopharmaceutical analysis. Moreover, the as-proposed approach was also used in the comprehensive pharmacokinetic research on those eight analytes within rats following M. tenacissima extract gavage. According to the pharmacokinetic parameters, tenacissoside B,I,H and G were the long-acting and primary bioactive constituents in M. tenacissima extract, which had long mean residence times and great concentrations. Our findings shed light on the absorption mechanism and provided significant information for the clinical application of M. tenacissima.

Keywords: LC-MS/MS; Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn.; Pharmacokinetic; Plasma.