A simple and sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of andrographolide in human plasma

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the determination of andrographolide in human plasma was established. Dehydroandrographolide was used as the internal standard (I.S.). The plasma samples were deproteinized with methanol and separated on a Hanbon C(18) column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (70:30, v/v). HPLC-ESI-MS/MS was performed in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M-H(2)O-H](-), m/z 331.1 for andrographolide and [M-H](-), m/z 331.1 for the I.S. Calibration curve was linear over the range of 1.0-150.0ng/mL. The chromatographic separation was achieved in less than 6.5min. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.0ng/mL. The intra and inter-run precisions were less than 6.95 and 7.22%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to determine the plasma concentrations of andrographolide in Chinese volunteers.