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Determination of Quercetin Metabolites in Rats Serum and Tissues by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

XING Meng-meng,ZHU Ke-xue,NIE Shao-ping,LI Na,LI Wen-juan,YANG Xi,XIE Ming-yong   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China
  • Online:2013-12-25 Published:2014-01-03

Abstract:

Objective: To determine quercetin metabolites in serum and tissues of rats after intragastric administration of
quercetin aglycone by quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS). Methods: The pre-processed serum and
tissue samples were separated and purified by Sephadex LH-20 solid-phase column. The collected aliquots were analyzed
by Q-TOF-MS in the negative ion mode using gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid (A)
and acetonitrile (B) to identify the metabolites of quercetin. Results: The Q-TOF-MS analysis showed that quercetin
was primarily metabolized to glucuronides and sulfates (73.70%) as well as esters (26.30%). Moreover, quercetin and
quercetin metabolites were widely distributed in rat tissues, especially in the female reproductive organs in SD rats. Its total
concentration in tissues was as follows: breast > uterus > ovary > adrenal gland > heart > spleen > liver > kidney.
Conclusion: Q-TOF-MS can quickly and effectively identify quercetin metabolites in serum and tissues of SD rats and
provide references for future study on the relationship between quercetin or its metabolites and health effect in the future.

Key words: quercetin, quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry, glucuronides, sulfates, metabolites