Quantification of the environmental neurotoxin annonacin in Rat brain by UPLC-MS/MS

The Annonaceous acetogenin annonacin is an environmental neurotoxin identified in the pulp of several fruits of the Annonaceae family, whose consumption was linked to the occurrence of sporadic atypical Parkinsonism with dementia. A method for its quantification in Rat brain homogenates by UPLC-MS/MS in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode was developed and validated. This method was applied to the quantitation of annonacin in Rat brain after intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) and oral (10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) administration. [Display omitted] •Annonacin is proposed as a food neurotoxin acting upon long-term exposure.•A quantification method of annonacin in brain homogenates was developed.•UPLC-MS/MS was used, with an analog of annonacin as internal standard.•The method was applied after administration by intravenous and oral route in rats.•Annonacin appears to have very low distribution in the Rat brain by both routes.