Detection and quantitation of ecdysterone in human serum by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Publication date: Available online 14 February 2020Source: SteroidsAuthor(s): Gabriella Ambrosio, Jan Felix Joseph, Bernhard Wuest, Monica Mazzarino, Xavier de la Torre, Patrick Diel, Francesco Botrè, Maria Kristina ParrAbstractThe polyhydroxylated phytosteroid ecdysterone is present in various plants (e.g. spinach). It is widely marketed as the active component of dietary supplements, due to its reported health and performance promoting effects. For evaluation of its actual bioavailability, a fast and sensitive method was developed, optimized and validated for human serum. Instrumental analysis was performed utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization and acquisition in multiple reaction mode. Solid phase extraction and dilute-and-inject (following protein precipitation) were tested to isolate ecdysterone from human serum. Both methods were compared in the light of the preset analytical target profile. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for ecdysterone in human serum after SPE extraction corresponded to 0.06 ng/mL and 0.14 ng/mL, respectively, meeting the requested sensitivity of the method. The assay was linear over the range from 0.10 ng/mL to 20.83 ng/mL. As expected, the sensitivity of the SPE method was better than that of the dilute-and-inject procedure, which did not allow for quantification of all post administration serum samples.Accuracy (relative error; %) and precision (coefficient of variatio...
Source: Steroids - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research