High-performance liquid chromatography assay of gnetol in rat serum and application to pre-clinical pharmacokinetic studies

A method of analysis of gnetol (2,3',5',6-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene) in biological fluids is necessary for the study of its kinetics and disposition in plants. A simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of gnetol in rat serum using a reverse-phase, isocratic system. Separation was achieved using a Phenomenex® Luna C₁₈(2) column with ultraviolet detection at 305 nm. The standard curves were linear ranging from 0.5 to 100 μg/ml. The mean extraction efficiency was >90.5%. Precision of the assay was <14% (R.S.D.), and was within 14% at the limit of quantitation (0.5 μg/ml). Bias of the assay was lower than 15%, and was within 15% at the limit of quantitation. The assay was applied successfully to the study of serum disposition of gnetol in rats.