A simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for quantitation of peimine and its pharmacokinetic in beagle dogs

A simple LC-MS/MS method was developed for determination and pharmacokinetic study of peimine in beagle dogs. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a Agilent Zobax SB C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-10 mmol/L ammonium formate (35:65, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by MRM via electro spray ionization source with positive mode. The standard curve for peimine was linear (r>0.999) over the concentration range of 1-200 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 1 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision (relative standard deviation) values were not higher than 15% and the accuracy (relative error) was <5% at 3 quality control levels. This simple, fast and highly sensitive method was fully validated and successfully applied to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study of peimine in dogs after oral and intravenous administration.