High resolution UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous separation and determination of six flavonoids from semen cuscutae extract in rat plasma: application to comparative pharmacokinetic studies in normal and kidney-deficient rats

Abstract

Semen Cuscutae, which mainly consisted of flavonoids, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and used for nourishing the liver and kidneys. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous separation and determination of six main active renoprotective components of Hyperoside, Astragalin, Isoquercitrin, Quercitrin, Quercetin, and Kaempferol from Semen Cuscutae in rat plasma, and to reveal the pharmacokinetic differences between normal and kidney deficient rats. The validated method has been successfully applied to comparing pharmacokinetic profiles of the six analytes in rat plasma. The results indicated that there was significant difference in pharmacokinetic parameters of the six analytes between two groups, while absorptions in kidney deficient group were significantly lower than those in normal group. This study would be helpful for evaluating the Semen Cuscutae as renoprotective drug candidates for pre-clinical and clinical research.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Semen Cuscutae
• renoprotective flavonoids
• UPLC-MS/MS
• rat plasma
• pharmacokinetics

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by the Shenyang Scientific Project under Grant [number 17-231-1-45], Shenyang Medical College Scientific Project under Grant [number 20163042] , Shenyang Medical College student scientific research Project under Grant [number 20179034] and Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province [number 20180550122].