An LC/MS/MS method for quantitation of chemopreventive sphingadienes in food products and biological samples

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality. Diet has a significant influence on colon cancer risk. Identifying chemopreventive agents, dietary constituents, practices and/or diet supplements that promote gut health and reduce the incidence of intestinal neoplasias and CRC could significantly impact public health. Sphingadienes (SDs) are dietary sphingolipids found in plant-based food products. SDs are cytotoxic to colon cancer cells and exhibit chemopreventive properties. The aim of the present study was to develop a sensitive and robust ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for quantifying SDs in food products and biological samples. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 80 nM to 50 μM and was sensitive to a detection limit of 3.3 nM. Post-extraction stability was 100% at 24 h. SD content in soy oils was approximately 10 nM. SDs were detected transiently in the plasma of adult mice 10 min after gavage delivery of a 25 mg/kg bolus and declined to baseline by 1 h. SD uptake in the gut was maximal in the duodenum and peaked 1 h after gavage delivery. Disappearance of SDs in the lower gastrointestinal tract suggests either rapid metabolism to yet unidentified products or potentially luminal export.