Rapid, Selective, and Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method Determines Antioxidant Level in Blood Plasma.

A small team of scientists from China’s Heibei University have developed an LC-MS/MS method for assessing blood plasma concentrations of an antioxidant isolated from paeonies that has been suggested to have therapeutic implications in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Benzoylpaeoniflorin (BP) is a potential therapeutic agent against the oxidative stress underlying the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's disease.

In this study, a more rapid, selective, and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine BP in rat plasma, distinguishing it from the similar monoterpene isomer, benzoylalbiflorin (BA).

The method showed a linear response from 1 to 1000 ng/mL (r > 0.9950). The precision of the interday and intraday ranged from 2.03 to 12.48% and the accuracy values ranged from −8.00 to 10.33%.

Most importantly, the method could be run and finished in 4 minutes.

The LC-MS/MS method was validated for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, and stability and was found to be acceptable for bioanalytical application. As a final test, the fully validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats following oral administration.

Reference:

Zhou, C. and Wang, X. (2017). Rapid Determination of Isomeric Benzoylpaeoniflorin and Benzoylalbiflorin in Rat Plasma by LC-MS/MS Method. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2017, pp.1-9.