Identification of amygdalin and its major metabolites in rat urine by LC–MS/MS

Amygdalin and its metabolites in rat urine were identified using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem ion-trap mass spectrometry. The purified rat urine sample was separated using a reversed-phase C18 column with 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 3.1) containing 30% methanol as the mobile phase, amygdalin and its metabolites were detected by on-line mass detector in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The identification of the metabolites and elucidation of their structure were performed by comparing the changes in molecular masses (ΔM), retention times and MS2 spectral patterns of metabolites with those of parent drug. At least seven metabolites and the parent drug were found in rat urine after i.v. injection of 100 mg/kg doses of amygdalin. Among them, six metabolites were reported for the first time.