Absorption study of Chios mastic gum triterpenic acids after oral administration in mice by LC-MS/MS

Chios mastic gum is the resin that is obtained from the trunk and branches of Pistacia lentiscus L var. chia. Although mastic gum is used extensively as a constituent of functional foods or as an herbal drug, the oral absorption of its major constituents remains unclear. In this context, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer (QqLIT) was employed for the measurement of mastic triterpenic acids in mouse plasma. 24Z – Isomasticadienonic acid (IMNA) and 24Z – isomasticadienolic acid (IMLA) were selected as model compounds, based on their activity against Helicobacter pylori [1]. Their concentrations were determined simultaneously in mouse plasma after oral administration of mastic gum (40mg/Kg). In addition, the absorption kinetic properties of IMNA and IMLA were recorded after oral administration of a polymer free mastic extract (40mg/Kg) in order to evaluate the role of the natural poly-β-myrcene (that constitutes ˜25% of raw mastic) in the absorption procedure. The results of the absorption study for the triterpenic acids indicated that they were quickly absorbed showing a peak concentration at 1h after administration of the polymer free extract. Circulating IMNA was found approximately 3000ng/mL and circulating IMLA approximately 150ng/mL. Interestingly, in the case of the administration of raw mastic, the absorption curve was significantly modified. Both tritepenic acids were quickly absorbed but no peak time was observed and additionally the maximum measured concentrations were 10-fold lower than in the case of the polymer free extract.