Title:Revealing Changes in Curcumin Bioavailability using Vitamin C as an Enhancer by HPLC-MS/MS
VOLUME: 17 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Xufen Dai, Jiaxue Hao, Ying Feng, Jing Wang, Qiannan Li, Cuicui Ma, Xing Wang, Zhongman Chang, Shixiang Wang and Yuxin Wang*
Affiliation:Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education/College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069
Keywords:Curcumin, vitamin C, antioxidants, HPLC–MS/MS, bioavailability, plasma.
Abstract:
Background: Curcumin (CUR), a natural isolated compound from turmeric, helps in
fighting many diseases, but the broad application of curcumin has been limited ascribed to low bioavailability.
Objective: The aim of this study is to pursue the enhancement of curcumin bioavailability through coadministration
of vitamin C.
Methods: Such purpose was achieved through the analysis of curcumin pharmacokinetics by highperformance
liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization - tandem mass spectrometry
(HPLC - ESI - MS/MS). The plasma was separated on a C18 reverse-phase column using acetonitrile
and ammonium formate solution (pH 6.5; 2.0 mM) at 0.8 mL/min. MS/MS detection was carried out in
negative mode using mass patterns of m/z 367.0 > 216.7 for curcumin and m/z 265.2 > 223.9 for internal
standard (honokiol).
Results: Successful application of the proposed method in the pharmacokinetic study presented clear
changes in key pharmacokinetic parameters, including the growth of AUC (0-t) up to 2.4 times, a 2.2-
fold increase of Cmax, 2.2-fold loss of CL, and 1.5-fold diminishment of t1/2.
Conclusion: An HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of curcumin in rat plasma and validated
the improvement of bioavailability of curcumin through co-administration of vitamin C was determined.
These changes were reasoned to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by the use of
vitamin C. Such a simple strategy is possible to become an alternative for enhancing curcumin efficiency
in practice.
