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Planta Med 2021; 87(12/13): 1101-1109
DOI: 10.1055/a-1408-9338
Pharmacokinetic Investigations
Original Papers

Development, Validation and Application of a UHPLC-MS Method for the Quantification of Chios Mastic Gum Triterpenoids in Human Plasma[ # ]

Vincent Brieudes‡
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Eleni V. Mikropoulou‡
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Errikos Kallergis
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Andriana C. Kaliora
2   Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
,
Efstathia Papada
2   Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
,
Petros Gkiouvetidis
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Apostolis Angelis
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Maria Halabalaki
1   Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: Stavros Niarchos Foundation 14320
Supported by: European Regional Development Fund 5002803
Supported by: Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” “STRENGTHENING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURES”
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Abstract

Chios mastic gum is the resinous secretion obtained from the barks of the shrub Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, which is endemic to the Greek island of Chios. Since antiquity, Chios mastic gum has found several uses as a phytotherapeutic remedy, primarily for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders while recently, Chios mastic gum was also recognized by EMA as an herbal medicinal product with specific indications. Chios mastic gumʼs biological properties are attributed to triterpenes which comprise the major chemical group (approx. 70%) and notably isomasticadienonic acid and masticadienonic acid. However, due to their structural characteristics, the isolation thereof in high yield and purity is challenging and since they are not commercially available, pharmacological studies aiming to assess their biological properties are limited. In the present work, masticʼs phytochemical investigation by UPLC-HRMS is followed by the isolation and characterization of isomasticadienonic acid and masticadienonic acid to be used as analytical standards for their accurate and reliable quantification in human plasma. A UHPLC-tQ-MS method that was developed and validated (in terms of specificity, linearity, limit of quantification, accuracy and precision), for the direct quantification of the targeted compounds in the low ng/mL range of concentration, was subsequently implemented on plasma samples of healthy volunteers thus demonstrating its fitness for purpose. The results presented herein might provide insight to the understanding of this traditional natural product consumed notably for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lipid lowering properties. Moreover, this method might serve as a starting point for any study aiming to monitor bioactive triterpenes in biological fluids.

Key words

Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia - Anacardiaceae - plasma - isomasticadienonic acid - mastic - masticadienonic acid - triterpenic acid

# Dedicated to Professor Arnold Vlietinck on the occasion of his 80th birthday.


Supporting Information

    The following are available as supporting information: UPLC-HRMS profile of CMG AF with two different ionization sources (APCI/ESI) operated in the negative mode (Fig. 1S), ESI(−)-HRMS spectra of fraction 1 (IMNA) and fraction 2 (MNA) (Fig. 2S), 1Η NMR spectra of IMNA and MNA (Fig. 3S), calibration curves of both targeted compounds in solvent (Fig. 4S), and variances analysis of the calibration models of the targeted compounds (Table 1S).

  • Supporting Information


Publication History

Received: 14 December 2020

Accepted after revision: 25 February 2021

Article published online:
30 March 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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