Validated UPLC-MS/MS method for quantification of seven compounds in rat plasma and tissues: Application to pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies in rats after oral administration of extract of Eclipta prostrata L.

A rapid, sensitive and specific ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Eclipta prostrata extract. Rats were orally administrated the 70% ethanol extract of E. prostrata, and their plasma as well as various organs were collected. The concentrations of seven main compounds, ecliptasaponin IV, ecliptasaponin A, apigenin, 3'-hydroxybiochanin A, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and wedelolactone, were quantified by UPLC-MS/MS through multiple reactions monitoring method. The precisions (RSD) of the analytes were all <15.00%. The extraction recoveries ranged from 74.65 to 107.45% with RSD ≤ 15.36%. The matrix effects ranged from 78.00 to 118.06% with RSD ≤ 15.04%. To conclude, the present pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies provided useful information for the clinical usage of Eclipta prostrata L.