Quantitative analysis of triptolide in human whole blood by LC-APCI-IT-MS-MS

In this study, the development and validation of an analytical method for triptolide in whole blood using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-IT-MS-MS) is reported. This is the first report of the systematic development and validation of an LC-MS-MS method for the quantitation of triptolide in human whole blood using prednisolone as an internal standard (IS). Prior to LC-MS-MS analysis, liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was used to isolate them from the biological matrix. Validation parameters such as specificity/selectivity, limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity, precision, accuracy and stability are evaluated for this method. The calibration curve was linear (r(2) = 0.9973) in the concentration range of 0.5-100.0 ng mL(-1) in human whole blood with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.5 ng mL(-1). Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 8.6 and 11.7%, respectively. Extraction recoveries of triptolide ranged from 81.5 to 88.1%. This assay can be used to determine trace triptolide in human whole blood.