Determination of Albendazole and Metabolites in Silkworm Bombyx mori Hemolymph by Ultrafast Liquid Chromatography Tandem Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum parasiticide with high effectiveness and low host toxicity. No method is currently available for measuring albendazole and its metabolites in silkworm hemolymph. This study describes a rapid, selective, sensitive, synchronous and reliable detection method for albendazole and its metabolites in silkworm hemolymph using ultrafast liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS). The method is liquid-liquid extraction followed by UFLC separation and quantification in an MS/MS system with positive electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Precursor-to-product ion transitions were monitored at 266.100 to 234.100 for albendazole (ABZ), 282.200 to 208.100 for albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO), 298.200 to 159.100 for albendazole sulfone (ABZSO2) and 240.200 to 133.100 for albendazole amino sulfone (ABZSO2-NH2). Calibration curves had good linearities with R2 of 0.9905–0.9972. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 1.32 ng/mL for ABZ, 16.67 ng/mL for ABZSO, 0.76 ng/mL for ABZSO2 and 5.94 ng/mL for ABZSO2-NH2. Recoveries were 93.12%–103.83% for ABZ, 66.51%–108.51% for ABZSO, 96.85%–105.6% for ABZSO2 and 96.46%–106.14% for ABZSO2-NH2, (RSDs <8%). Accuracy, precision and stability tests showed acceptable variation in quality control (QC) samples. This analytical method successfully determined albendazole and its metabolites in silkworm hemolymph in a pharmacokinetic study. The results of single-dose treatment suggested that the concentrations of ABZ, ABZSO and ABZSO2 increased and then fell, while ABZSO2-NH2 level was low without obvious change. Different trends were observed for multi-dose treatment, with concentrations of ABZSO and ABZSO2 rising over time.

Plant Essential Oils Affect the Toxicities of Carbaryl and Permethrin Against <I>Aedes aegypti</I> (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…The hemolymph was collected using the method of Li et al (2014a); the larvae were dissected, and the midgut, brain, and ventral nerve cord were collected . All samples, including excreta, were stored at −20 °C until use.…”

Addition of Cinnamon Oil Improves Toxicity of Rotenone toSpodoptera litura(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

“…The hemolymph was collected using the method of Li et al (2014a); the larvae were dissected, and the midgut, brain, and ventral nerve cord were collected (Zhao et al 2015). All samples, including excreta, were stored at −20 °C until use.…”

Application of mass spectrometry in silkworm research—Review

“…Secondly, fatty acids which are the other major components in silkworms, have several potential medical applications. It should be noted that MS detection could also be very useful for other relevant research areas such as ecdysteroids in silkworm (Tang, Li, & Wu, ) as well as parasiticides such as albendazole (Li et al, ). Ecdysteroids, which are polyhydroxylated steroid hormones in invertebrates and function as molting hormones in insects, but are also present in plants, could potentially be used as anabolic agents in food‐producing animals because of their growth‐promoting properties.…”