Liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric method for the plant lignan 7-hydroxymatairesinol and its potential metabolites in human plasma

A HPLC–MS–MS method was developed for the determination of the plant lignan 7-hydroxymatairesinol and its potential metabolites matairesinol, oxomatairesinol, α-conidendrin, 7-hydroxyenterolactone, enterodiol, and enterolactone in human plasma. The method included sample cleanup by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analysis using a PE Sciex API3000 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with electrospray ionisation. The lignans were quantified using two deuterated internal standards. They showed good chromatographic linearity, analysis repeatability, and SPE recovery in the presence of plasma. In pooled plasma and in plasma samples collected from two individual subjects lignan glucuronides and sulfates were enzymatically hydrolysed to free lignans and then analysed. All the lignans could be detected in the samples.