Identification of Major Metabolites of Salbutamol in Swine Urine and Plasma Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

The excretion of urinary and plasmic metabolites of salbutamol was studied using ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, after a single intragastric gavaged dose administration with salbutamol. The software of Agilent Mass Hunter Metabolite ID was employed to find and identify the chemical structure of metabolites of salbutamol. Five metabolites from salbutamol were identified. The metabolites identified in swine urine included glucuronide conjugate salbutamol, N-oxide-salbutamol, hydroxyl-salbutamol, methoxyl-salbutamol and dehydrated hydroxyl-salbutamol. Whereas, only the parent drugs, glucuronide conjugate salbutamol and N-oxide salbutamol were observed in plasma.

Graphical abstractAccurate MS/MS spectra of identified metabolites in swine urine at 3 h after intragastric gavaged administration of salbutamol at a dose of 10 mg kg−1 BW: M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 (The characteristic fragment ions of identified metabolites were obtained from in-source CID fragmentation experiment).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide