Identification and analysis of gastrodin and its five metabolites using ultra fast liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to investigate influence of multiple-dose and food

A reliable and highly sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-ESI-MS/MS) analytical method was developed for identification and quantification of gastrodin (GAS) and its metabolites in rat plasma. Five metabolites were identified: p-formylphenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (M1), p-hydroxybenzonic acid (M2), p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (M3), p-formaldehydephenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (M4), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (M5). The molecular structures of metabolites were proposed based on the characters of their precursor ions, product ions and chromatographic retention time. Four of them were reported firstly in rat plasma. This method involved the addition of bergeninum as the internal standard (IS), UFLC separation, and quantification by MS/MS system using negative electrospray ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The lower limit of quantification of gastrodin and five metabolites were all 1 ng/mL. The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.001-10 μg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions (R.S.D %) were within 15.0% for all analytes. No interference was noted due to endogenous substances. All analytes were stable in rat plasma stored at room temperature and 4 °C for at least 4 h, −20 °C combined with three freeze-thaw cycles for at least 1 month. By this method, the influence of multiple-dose and food on the pharmacokinetics behaviors of GAS and its metabolites were studied for the first time. We hope pharmacokinetic data of present study may inspire rational clinical usage of GAS.