A novel UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of rhein, emodin, berberine and baicalin in rat plasma and its application in a pharmacokinetic study.
BACKGROUND
Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Decoction (DHXD) is a classical formula in traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, a novel UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of rhein, emodin, berberine and baicalin, the major bioactive compounds of DHXD in rat plasma.


RESULTS
The method possessed high sensitivity and ultrashort analysis time (7 min). Linearity, accuracy, precision and extraction recovery of four analytes were all satisfactory. The method was then successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study of four bioactive components after a single oral administration of DHXD extract to rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The method was applicable for simultaneous bioanalysis of rhein, emodin, berberine and baicalin.
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Ping
P
Huang
Jing-wen
JW
Gao
Zhan
Z
Shi
Jia-li
JL
Zou
Ya-song
YS
Lu
Yue-mei
YM
Yuan
Mei-cun
MC
Yao
D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001599:Berberine / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000188:drug therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004642:Emodin / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
D000880:Anthraquinones; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D001599:Berberine; C038044:baicalin; D004642:Emodin; C020491:rhein