Comparison of HPLC with electrochemical detection and LC–MS/MS for the separation and validation of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in animal and human plasma

High-performance liquid chromatography with reductive electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) method has been used for assaying artemisinins since 1985. Although the methods have been remarkably improved, tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) systems with significant advantages have gradually replaced HPLC-ECD to analyze artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in plasma. In the present study, the two methods were evaluated for linearity, quantitation limits, selectivity, precision, and accuracy. The HPLC-ECD performed well in terms of various validation parameters, and showed a good agreement with the LC–MS/MS when calibrated in plasma. However, the major benefit of LC–MS/MS is that it requires only one-tenth the plasma volume needed by HPLC-ECD assay.