A simple and selective LC-MS/MS method for quantification of ikarisoside A in rat plasma and its application to a...

Ikarisoside A is a natural flavonoid isolated from Epimedium plants. To further evaluate its medicinal potential, a sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the assay of ikarisoside A in rat plasma. Orientin was used as an internal standard. The electrospray ionization was operated in its negative ion mode while ikarisoside A and IS were measured by selected reaction monitoring using precursor-to-product ion transitions of m/z 499.1 → 353.0 and m/z 446.9 → 327.6, respectively. This LC-MS/MS method had good sensitivity (LLOQ = 1.5 ng/mL), accuracy (both intra- and inter-day RE ≤ ±11.9%) and precision (both intra- and inter-day RSD ≤8.5%). The pharmacokinetics of ikarisoside A was subsequently profiled in Sprague-Dawley rats. Following oral administration (35 mg/kg), ikarisoside A reached maximum plasma concentration (C_max , 207.6 ± 96.7 ng/mL) attained at 1.10 ± 0.42 h. Following oral administration, the clearance and terminal half-life were 42.9 ± 26.5 L/h/kg and 3.15 ± 0.80 h by oral route, respectively.