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

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 499.1353.0 and m/z 446.9327.6, respectively. This LC-MS/MS method had good sensitivity (LLOQ=1.5ng/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 (35mg/kg), ikarisoside A reached maximum plasma concentration (C-max, 207.6 +/- 96.7ng/mL) attained at 1.10 +/- 0.42h. Following oral administration, the clearance and terminal half-life were 42.9 +/- 26.5L/h/kg and 3.15 +/- 0.80h by oral route, respectively.