Determination of baicalin and baicalein in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

Abstract A rapid and sensitive method, using electrochemical detection, has been developed for the determination of baicalin and baicalein, the flavonoid of Scutellariae radix , in rat plasma. Following separation by high-performance liquid chromatography, baicalin and baicalein were oxidized at a glassy carbon electrode to permit selective electrochemical detection. Absolute detection limits were found to be 5 ng/ml from 50 μl of plasma for baicalin and 2 ng/ml from 100 μl of plasma for baicalein. The resulting assays were suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of baicalin and baicalein in rats.