Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry of terpene lactones in plasma of volunteers dosed with Ginkgo bilobaL. extracts

Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectro metry (LC/APCI-ITMS) was applied to evaluate the levels of ginkgolides A an d B and bilobalide in plasma of volunteers after administration of Ginkgo b iloba extracts in free (Ginkgoselect (R)) or phospholipid complex (Ginkgose lect (R) Phytosome (R)) forms, providing 9.6mg of total terpene lactones. T he maximum plasma concentrations, C-max of total ginkgolides A, B and bilob alide were 85.0 and 181.8 mug/mL for Ginkgoselect and Ginkgoselect Phytosom e, respectively. The C,, values were reached at 120 min for the free form a nd at 180-240 min for the phospholipid complex form. In both eases, the mea n elimination half-life of each terpene lactone was in the range 120-180 mi n. Due to its sensitivity (about 1ng/mL) and specificity, LC/APCI-ITMS prov ed to be a very powerful tool for pharmacokinetic studies of these phytoche micals. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.