Determination of glabridin in human plasma by solid-phase extraction and LC–MS/MS

Glabridin is a major flavonoid included specifically in licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), and has various physiological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We have developed and validated an analytical method for determination of glabridin in human plasma by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and LC–MS/MS. Glabridin was extracted from plasma by SPE using a C8 cartridge and analyzed by LC–MS/MS using mefenamic acid as an internal standard (IS). The analyte were separated by a C18 column on LC, and monitored with a fragment ion of m/z 201 formed from a molecular ion of m/z 323 for glabridin and that of m/z 196 from m/z 240 for IS during negative ion mode with tandem MS detection. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of glabridin was 0.1 ng/mL in plasma, corresponding to 1.25 pg injected on-column. The calibration curves exhibited excellent linearity (r > 0.997) between 0.1 and 50 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy were <17 and <±7% at LLOQ, and <11 and <±5% at other concentrations. Glabridin was recovered >90%, and was stable when kept at 10 °C for 72 h, at −20 °C until 12 weeks, and after three freeze-thaw cycles. This is the first report on determination of glabridin in body fluids by the selective, sensitive, and reproducible method.