A sensitive and selective RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of picroside-I and picroside-II in rat plasma and its application in pharmacokinetics studies.

A sensitive and selective HPLC method with UV detection for the simultaneous determination of picroside-I and picroside-II (active components of total glycoside of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell) was developed and validated in rat plasma. After simple deproteinization using acetonitrile, analysis was performed on an RP-C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min used in a gradient elution program. The UV detection wavelength was set at 262 and 277 nm. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 0.10-50 microg/mL for picroside-I and 0.25-200 microg/mL for picroside-II. The lower limits of quantification were 0.1 and 0.25 microg/mL for picroside-I and picroside-II, respectively. The recoveries from spiked control samples were up to 80% for both picroside-I and picroside-II. Accuracy and precision of the validated method were both within the acceptable limits of <15% at three quality control concentrations. The analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles. The method was successfully used to determine concentrations of picroside-I and picroside-II after intravenous administration of total glycoside of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell to rats.