Identification of Icaritin Metabolites in Rats by LC-MS/MS / 中草药·英文版

ABSTRACT

Objective: Icaritin is the main aglycone and also active intestinal metabolite of prenylflavonoids from the Chinese materia medica Epimedii Herba. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that icaritin has a wide range of biological activities. However, its metabolites and biotransformation pathways have not yet been comprehensively investigated. The present study aims to identify icaritin metabolites in rats by using a sensitive and effective LC-MS/MS method. Methods: The plasma and urine samples of rats were collected before (blank) and after oral administration of icaritin, and subjected to liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The full-scan LC-MS chromatograms of the plasma and urine samples were compared with those of blank samples to detect the possible metabolites, which were later detected by their product ion spectra. Results: A total of 23 metabolites were identified, and conjugated icaritins produced by glucuronidation, glycosylation, and sulfation were its major metabolites. Minor demethylation, hydrogenation, and oxidation metabolites were also found. Conclusion: Phase II metabolism is the main metabolic pathway of icaritin.