Quantitative determination of apogossypol, a pro-apoptotic analog of gossypol, in mouse plasma using LC/MS/MS

A simple and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method based on internal standard quantitation using apigenin as the internal standard has been developed and validated for the analysis of the gossypol analog apogossypol, a pro-apoptotic compound, in mouse plasma. The methodology involves protein precipitation of plasma samples followed by LC/MS/MS analysis. Ascorbic acid was added to the spiking solutions and plasma samples to stabilize the easily oxidized compound. Separation of apogossypol and the internal standard from the plasma matrix was achieved using a C18 column with a gradient elution profile consisting of 5 mM ammonium acetate and methanol. The validated range of the method extended from 10 to 2000 ng/mL with accuracies of 85–115% and precision of <15%. The average recovery of apogossypol at three concentrations (50, 200 and 1000 ng/mL) assayed in triplicate using this methodology was determined to be 90.8 ± 12.9%. Recovery for the internal standard (apigenin) at a concentration of 500 ng/mL was found to be 99.9 ± 6.41%. Apogossypol concentrations of 50 ng/mL and above were found to be stable in extracted plasma for 24 h when stored at 25 °C. This method has been applied to the determination of apogossypol concentrations in plasma collected from mice given an IV dose of apogossypol.