Characterization of Flavonoid Metabolites in Rat Plasma, Urine, andFeces after Oral Administration of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae Extract byHPLC-Diode-Array Detection (DAD) and Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometry(MS~n)

摘要

A highly specific and sensitive method using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and ion-trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS~n) was developed for study of the constituentsof flavonoid extract of jujube seeds and the metabolites in rat plasma, urine, and feces samples after oral admin-istration of flavonoid extract of jujube seeds. Two major flavonoids (spinosin and 6"'-feruloylspinosin) with con-tent >60% in the flavonoid extract of jujube seeds were detected and confirmed by comparison with the refer-ence standards. Furthermore, five metabolic components in plasma, seven in urine, and four in feces were de-tected and elucidated. The scientific and plausible biotransformation pathways of the main components inflavonoid extract of jujube seeds were also proposed, together with presentation of clues for potential bioactivemechanisms. This convenient HPLC-DAD-MS~n method could be used to identify the chemical components offlavonoid extract of jujube seeds as well as their metabolites, and to reveal their possible metabolic mechanism ofaction in vivo.