Simultaneous estimation of E- and Z-isomers of guggulsterone in rabbit plasma using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic study.

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for simultaneous determination of E- and Z-guggulsterone isomers (antihyperlipidemic drug) in rabbit plasma. Both the isomers were resolved on a Symmetry-Shield C(18) (5 µm, 4.6 × 150 mm) column, using gradient elution comprising a mobile phase of methanol, 0.5% v/v formic acid and acetonitrile. With dexamethasone as internal standard, plasma samples were extracted by an automated solid-phase extraction method using C(18) cartridges. Detection was performed by electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive mode. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 1.56-200 ng/mL (r(2) ≥ 0.998) for both analytes. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision were within -0.96 to 4.12 (%bias) and 2.73 to 8.00 (%RSD) respectively. The analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles. The method was successfully applied to study steriospecific pharmacokinetics of E- and Z-guggulsterone in NZ rabbit.