Two main metabolites of gentiopicroside detected in rat plasma by LC-TOF-MS following 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatization

- The metabolism of gentiopicroside in rats was studied by LC/MS following precolumn derivatization.
- The main metabolite erythrocentaurin and gentiopicral were detected in rat plasma.
- The monoterpene compound gentiopicroside was found to be metabolized to dihydroisocoumarin in vivo.
- Methyl 4-formylbenzoate was used as the internal standard to quantify erythrocentaurin and gentiopicral in rat plasma.
- The metabolic pathway of gentiopicroside to erythrocentaurin and gentiopicral in vivo was proposed.