Identification of components and metabolites of Mentha haplocalyx in rats plasma by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the prototype components and metabolites of Mentha haplocalyx in rats plasma. Methods UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was developed and applied to identify the components and metabolites of rat plasma. The analysis was carried out on an Eclipse Plus C18 column (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm, Agilent) with the mobile phase of 0.1% acetic acid solution (A)-acetonitrile (B) at a flowing rate of 0.3 mL/min, and the injection volume was 5 μL. Results The developed method was applicable to the analysis and identification of metabolites of M. haplocalyx after oral administration. A total of 67 compounds, including 28 prototype components and 39 metabolites (one of which was a new metabolite of luteolin unreported), were identified by comparison of their retention time, ion fragmentation information with that of the blank biological samples, herb extract, and reference compounds. Conclusion The metabolic pathway of M. haplocalyx in rats were consisted of oxidation, reduction, methylation, sulfation, and glucuronidation, and the main metabolic pathway was phase II metabolic pathway among of them. This experimental method is simple and reliable, which could provide theoretical basis for elucidating the bioactive components of M. haplocalyx.