Development of simultaneous quantitative analytical method for three active components of Korean mint (Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Kuntze) extract in human plasma using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Agastache rugosa contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and has been extensively used as a traditional herbal medicine. The major components in Agastache rugosa extract (ARE) are rosmarinic acid, tilianin, and acacetin, for which several analytical techniques have been reported. However, these substances have yet to be simultaneously quantified in human plasma. In this study, we aimed to simultaneously determine the three active components of ARE in human plasma by developing a reliable quantitative analytical method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Chromatographic separation of the plasma samples was achieved using an ACQUITY UPLC® BEH C18 column with a gradient mobile phase of water and acetonitrile containing 0.1 % formic acid. Mass spectrometric detection was performed using a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in negative electrospray ionization (ESI−) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. The developed quantitative method was validated for the three active components. All three analytes exhibited a linear response over the ranges of 0.5–50 ng/mL for rosmarinic acid, 0.1–20 ng/mL for acacetin, and 0.5–20 ng/mL for tilianin with a weighting factor of 1/x (where x is the concentration). At three quality control (QC) concentration levels (low, medium, and high), including the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ), acceptable accuracy (±15 %) was achieved in the intra- and interday validations. The concentration of rosmarinic acid was highest in plasma. Tilianin and acacetin appeared and were eliminated earlier in the plasma than rosmarinic acid. This study provides a successfully validated method that can be used in further clinical applications of Agastache rugosa extracts.