Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Chin Med. 2010 Mar 23;5:12. doi: 10.1186/1749-8546-5-12.
Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), the main active components of Radix Notoginseng, has been used for treating atherosclerosis, cerebral infarction, and cerebral ischemia. Ginsenosides Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, and notoginsenoside R1 are the main contributors of biological activities, determination of these three saponins is very important for the in vivo evaluation of PNS. The present study aims to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of ginsenosides Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, and notoginsenoside R1. The use of this method was exemplified in pharmacokinetic study of beagle dog plasma after oral administration of PNS.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was combined with solid-phase extraction (SPE). This setup was used to determine simultaneously the three major PNS (ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, and notoginsenoside R1) in beagle dog plasma. Tandem mass spectrometry was performed using electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode.
The lower limits of quantification were 0.5 ng/mL for notoginsenoside R1, 0.82 ng/mL for ginsenoside Rg1, and 1.10 ng/mL for ginsenoside Rb1. The calibration curves for the three saponins were linear over the concentration ranges 2.64-264 ng/mL (r2 = 0.9967, P = 0.003), 3.6-360 ng/mL (r2 = 0.9941, P = 0.004), and 18.7-1870 ng/mL (r2 = 0.9912, P = 0.004) for notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, and ginsenoside Rb1, respectively. Within these concentration ranges, the relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra- and interday assays for the three PNS from beagle dog plasma samples were less than 12%.
This LC/MS/MS method in combination with SPE is useful in the pharmacokinetic study of PNS, such as the simultaneous determination of saponins in beagle dog plasma after oral administration.
三七总皂苷（PNS）是三七的主要活性成分，已用于治疗动脉粥样硬化、脑梗死和脑缺血。人参皂苷 Rg1、人参皂苷 Rb1 和三七皂苷 R1 是生物活性的主要贡献者，这三种皂苷的测定对于 PNS 的体内评价非常重要。本研究旨在建立一种同时定量测定人参皂苷 Rg1、人参皂苷 Rb1 和三七皂苷 R1 的液相色谱-串联质谱（LC-MS/MS）方法。该方法用于犬血浆口服给予 PNS 后的药代动力学研究。
液相色谱-串联质谱（LC/MS/MS）法结合固相萃取（SPE）。该装置用于同时测定犬血浆中三种主要 PNS（人参皂苷 Rg1、人参皂苷 Rb1 和三七皂苷 R1）。串联质谱采用电喷雾电离在正离子模式下进行。
三七皂苷 R1 的定量下限为 0.5ng/mL，人参皂苷 Rg1 为 0.82ng/mL，人参皂苷 Rb1 为 1.10ng/mL。三种皂苷的校准曲线在浓度范围 2.64-264ng/mL（r2=0.9967，P=0.003）、3.6-360ng/mL（r2=0.9941，P=0.004）和 18.7-1870ng/mL（r2=0.9912，P=0.004）时均呈线性。在这些浓度范围内，犬血浆样品中三种 PNS 的日内和日间相对标准偏差（RSD）均小于 12%。
该 LC/MS/MS 方法结合 SPE 可用于 PNS 的药代动力学研究，例如犬口服给予后皂苷在血浆中的同时测定。
