Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry of terpene lactones in plasma of volunteers dosed with Ginkgo biloba L. extracts

Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-ITMS) was applied to evaluate the levels of ginkgo biloba extracts in free (Ginkgoselect) or phospholipid complex (Ginkgoselect Phytosome) forms, providing 9.6 mg of total terpene lactones. The maximum plasma concentration, Cmax, of total ginkgolides A, B and bilobalide were 85.0 and 181.8 microg/ml for Ginkgoselect and Ginkgoselect Phytosome, respectively. The Cmax values were reached at 120 min for the free form and at 180-240 min for the phospholipid complex form. In both cases, the mean elimination half-life of each terpene lactone was in the range 120-180 min. Due to its sensitivity (about 1 ng/ml) and specificity. LC/APCI-ITMS proved to be a very powerful tool for pharmacokinetic studies of these phytochemicals.