Characterization of flavonoid metabolites in rat plasma, urine, and feces after oral administration of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae extract by HPLC-diode-array detection (DAD) and ion-trap mass spectrometry (MS(n)).

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 constituents of flavonoid extract of jujube seeds and the metabolites in rat plasma, urine, and feces samples after oral administration of flavonoid extract of jujube seeds. Two major flavonoids (spinosin and 6'''-feruloylspinosin) with content >60% in the flavonoid extract of jujube seeds were detected and confirmed by comparison with the reference standards. Furthermore, five metabolic components in plasma, seven in urine, and four in feces were detected and elucidated. The scientific and plausible biotransformation pathways of the main components in flavonoid extract of jujube seeds were also proposed, together with presentation of clues for potential bioactive mechanisms. This convenient HPLC-DAD-MS(n) method could be used to identify the chemical components of flavonoid extract of jujube seeds as well as their metabolites, and to reveal their possible metabolic mechanism of action in vivo.