Pharmacokinetics study of 16 active ingredients from Tabson‐2 decoction in normal and d‐galactose induced osteoporosis rats by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract Tabson‐2 decoction is the traditional Mongolian formula for anti‐osteoporosis, and the ambiguous of active ingredient is an important factor in restricting its modernization and globalization. Although pharmacokinetic profiles research is a viable approach to find the components being responsible for formula efficacy, the pharmacokinetics study of Tabson‐2 decoction has not been elucidated yet. Owing to the existence of isomers, low bioavailability of some small molecule and interference of endogenous, the pharmacokinetics study of Tabson‐2 decoction are more difficult than that of chemical drugs. In our experiment, a specific and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of 16 active ingredients in Tabson‐2 decoction, which could fulfill the requirements of multi‐compounds pharmacokinetic study of Tabson‐2 decoction. Additionally, the ingredients with significant distributions in rats were gentianic acid, chlorogenic acid, and aucubin, which could be the main potential active components in Tabson‐2 decoction. The components with a significant bioavailability difference between normal and d ‐galactose induced osteoporosis rats were achieved as well. These data offer useful information for screening the active ingredients in Tabson‐2 decoction, and assessing the bioavailability of these active ingredients in different physiological status, which might provide a possible mechanism of anti‐osteoporosis efficacy of Tabson‐2 decoction.