Development and validation of a sensitive and fast UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of seven bioactive compounds in rat plasma after oral administration of Guizhi-gancao decoction.

•Simultaneous determination of three coumarins, two triterpene saponins and two flavonoids in rat plasma by UPLC–MS/MS.•The pharmacokinetic study of so many compounds in rats after oral administration of GGD is reported.•Extraction procedure performed with a simple protein precipitation.•Rapid, sensitive, selective and accurate.