A new high performance liquid chromatographic method for quantification of atomoxetine in human plasma and its application for pharmacokinetic study

Atomoxetine is the first, non-stimulant alternative to other stimulant medications used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Reported methods for the determination of atomoxetine include expensive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with liquid scintillation counting (LSC) detection. Till date, no method has been reported in literature to determine atomoxetine using HPLC with UV detection. In this paper, we describe a new HPLC method for the determination of atomoxetine using liquid-liquid extraction with tertiary butyl methyl ether and UV detector. This method was found to be linear over the concentration range of 0.05-3.0 microg/ml. The limit of quantification was 0.05 microg/ml. Intra- and inter-day precision was <15% and accuracy was in the range of 95.67-108.80%. Stability studies showed that atomoxetine was stable in human plasma for short- and long-term period for sample preparation and analysis. This method was used for sample analysis in a pharmacokinetic study of atomoxetine (25mg) in five healthy adult female volunteers. The observed mean+/-S.D. pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, Tmax and AUC(0-t) were 0.40+/-0.06 microg/ml, 3.40+/-0.42 h and 1.34+/-0.52 microg h/ml, respectively.     

13-cis-retinoic acid is an endogenous compound in human serum

The occurrence of 13-cis-retinoic acid as an endogenous component in human serum has been confirmed by cochromatography with standards in both normal-phase and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system, by the lambda max of its UV spectrum recorded simultaneously with the HPLC run, and by chromatography of its methyl derivative. The method using solid-phase extraction followed by a gradient reverse-phase HPLC procedure with an internal standard and sensitive UV detector, provides an efficient and sensitive technique for the separation and quantification of serum 13-cis- and all-trans-retinoic acid. Serum levels of 13-cis- and all-trans-retinoic acid in 26 fasting volunteers ranged from 1.0 to 2.2 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM = 1.4 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) and from 1.1 to 1.9 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM = 1.4 +/- 0.2 ng/ml), respectively. The levels determined by a liquid-liquid double-phase extraction method were 90% higher in both 13-cis- and all- trans-retinoic acid than those from a solid-phase extraction. Human small intestine can isomerize all-trans-retinoic acid. 13-cis-Retinoic acid is the predominant cis isomer after incubation of intestinal mucosa homogenates with all-trans-retinoic acid. Moreover, the concentration of retinoic acid in serum is related to diet in that the level of total retinoic acid was 36% higher (n = 10) 2 h after a nonstandard breakfast than in fasting subjects.     

Determination of epimedin C in rat plasma by reversed-phase high-performance chromatography after oral administration of Herba Epimedii extract

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of epimedin C in rat plasma and applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after administration of Herba Epimedii extract. After addition of carbamazepine as an internal standard plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate. HPLC analysis of the extracts was performed on a Hypersil ODS2 analytical column using acetonitrile -0.4% acetic acid (25:75, v/v) as the mobile phase. The UV detector was set at 260 nm. The standard curve was linear over the range 0.05-4.0 microg/mL. The lower limit of quantification was 0.05 microg/mL. The HPLC method developed could be easily applied to the determination and pharmacokinetic study of epimedin C in rat plasma after giving the animals Herba Epimedii extract.     

石杉科植物石杉总碱含量的测定及基于紫外光谱的除趋势对应分析

对来自浙江、福建境内石杉科植物蛇足石杉（Huperzia serrata）、柳叶马尾杉（Phlegmariurus cryptomerianus）10个不同地理居群的石杉总碱含量进行了测定．并基于紫外光谱,对它们的表型分化进行了除趋势对应分析。结果表明：①石杉科这两种植物叶片的石杉总碱含量普遍高于茎中的含量;②来自浙江磐安的蛇足石杉居群的叶、茎石杉总碱含量都明显高于其它居群。可以选择该居群作为栽培蛇足石杉的种源;③DCA排序发现,产自磐安的蛇足石杉样品,特别是叶的提取液,其紫外光谱明显不同于其它样品．表明紫外光谱法能够用于鉴别石杉总碱含量较高的蛇足石杉药材。     

Development of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous quantification of four organoarsenic compounds in the feeds of swine and chicken

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of arsanilic acid, roxarsone, nitarsone, and carbarsone in the feeds of swine and chicken. Feed samples were extracted with methanol/1% acetic acid (90:10, v/v) in an ultrasonic bath and the protein was precipitated with 2% Cu(2)SO(4). The samples were further purified by solid phase extraction (SPE) on SAX cartridges. Separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-Aq C18 HPLC column using an isocratic procedure with methanol and 1% acetic acid (3:97, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.7 mL min(-1), and the UV detector was set at a wavelength of 260 nm. The recoveries of organoarsenic compounds spiked at levels of 2, 20 and 200 μg g(-1) ranged from 81.2% to 91.3%; the inter-day relative standard deviation values were less than 7.0%. The limits of quantification for four organoarsenic compounds were 1.0-2.0 μg g(-1). This simple and fast method could be applied to the determination of multi-residues of organic arsenic compounds in animal feeds.     

Liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantitation of huperzine A in dog plasma

A rapid and sensitive LC-MS-MS method for the determination of huperzine A in dog plasma using huperzine B as internal standard has been developed and validated. The analyte and internal standard were extracted from plasma using n-hexane-dichloromethane-2-propanol (300:150:15, v/v/v), chromatographed on a C(18) column (5 microm, 50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-methanol-10mM ammonium acetate (35:40:25, v/v/v), and detected using a tandem mass spectrometer with a TurboIonSpray ionization interface. The run time was only 2 min. The assay was linear over the concentration range 0.05-20 ng/ml and intra- and inter-day precision over this range were <5.3% with good accuracy. The limit of detection in plasma was 0.01 ng/ml. The method was successfully applied to define plasma concentration-time curves of huperzine A in dogs after the last dose of an intramuscular injection (10 microg/kg per day for 15 days) of a sustained-release formulation of huperzine A.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay validation of Manumycin A in mouse plasma

Manumycin A is a natural antibiotic produced by Streptomyces parvulus that has antineoplastic activity against a variety of human cancers in nude mouse models. We have developed a highly sensitive reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method based on ultraviolet (UV) detection for the determination of manumycin A in mouse plasma. Manumycin A was isolated from mouse plasma by solid-phase extraction. A gradient elution of methanol and 0.05 M H(3)PO(4) with 0.2% triethylamine mobile phase was employed and separation was achieved with a C(18) analytical column. Manumycin A was detected by UV absorption at 345 nm. Retention time for manumycin A was 8.9+/-0.2 min. The manumycin A peak was baseline resolved, with the nearest peak at 1.5 min distance and no interfering peaks detected. Inter- and intra-day coefficients of variance were less than 6.1 and 5.1%, respectively. Based on an extracted manumycin A standard plasma sample of 0.25 microg/ml, the assay precision was 99.8% with a mean accuracy of 95.1%. At plasma concentrations of 0.5 and 5 microg/ml, the mean recovery rates of manumycin A were 59.64 and 60.28%, respectively. The lower limit of detection (LLD) for manumycin A was 0.1 microg/ml in mouse plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLQ) for manumycin A was 0.125 microg/ml. Results of the stability study indicated that when frozen at -80 degrees C, manumycin A was stable in mouse plasma for up to 2 weeks. This method is useful in quantification of manumycin A in mouse plasma for clinical pharmacology studies in mice.     

Study of the determination and pharmacokinetics of bufadienolides in dog's plasma after administration of Liu-Shen-Wan by high performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reliable high performance liquid chromatography-tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry method (HPLC/TOF MS) has been developed to determine three active bufadienolides from Liu-Shen-Wan (LSW) in dog's plasma. Enhanced selectivity and sensitivity in comparison with traditional HPLC/DAD method could be obtained through this method. Bufodienolides could be well separated and distinguished from its nominally isobaric endogenous components by HPLC/TOF MS, with the linear calibration range covering from 0.5 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL and Limit of Detection (LOD) being about 0.15 ng/mL. This method was also proved to be quite stable, with the intra-day precision and the inter-day precision results being lower than 6.39% and 7.44%, respectively. Meanwhile HPLC/TOF MS was successfully used in the pharmacokinetic study of LSW. For resibufogenin, the major pharmacokinetic parameters AUC0-t, Cmax and t1/2alpha were 160.72+/-21.97 ng/mL min, 2.35+/-0.71 ng/mL and 20.74+/-5.89 min, respectively, and for bufalin the corresponding parameters were 55.55+/-7.55 ng/mL min, 0.91+/-0.15 ng/mL and 25.45+/-13.28 min, respectively.     

Quantitative determination of trans-polydatin, a natural strong anti-oxidative compound, in rat plasma and cellular environment of a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line for pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, accurate, precise, specific and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for determination of trans-polydatin, a natural strong anti-oxidative compound, in rat plasma and cell suspension. The assay procedure involved simple liquid-liquid extraction, the supernatant liquid was added an equal volume of water to avoid solvent effect. The detection of the analyte peak was achieved by monitoring the eluate using a UV detector set at 303 nm. The analysis used a Hypersil ODS2 C18 column (5 microm, 4.6 mm x 250 mm) and methanol/distilled water as the mobile phase (flow rate=1 mL/min). A total analytical run was achieved within 6.0 min and calibration curve was linear over a wide concentration range of 0.25-40 microg/mL for plasma sample and 1.0-500 microM for cell suspension, the coefficients of correlation were 0.9997 and 0.9999 or better, respectively. There was 80.7+/-7.86%, 96.8+/-3.20% and 102.7+/-9.72% recovery from 0.5, 10, and 40 microg/mL plasma samples, respectively. Intra- and inter-batch accuracy and precision were acceptable for the both matrices. The RSD of intra- and inter-day assay variations were all less than 10%. Both analyte and IS were stable in the battery of stability studies, freeze-thaw cycles. The described assay method was applied to pharmacokinetic studies in rats and a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2) successfully. The application of the assay to determine the pharmacokinetic is described.     

High performance liquid chromatography analysis of a 4-anilinoquinazoline derivative (PD153035), a specific inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, in rat plasma

The quinazoline derivative, 4-N-(3'-bromo-phenyl)amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline (PD153035), has recently been identified as a potential drug for the treatment of proliferative disease. Here, we report a sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based quantitative detection method for measurement of PD153035 levels in rat plasma. Sample pretreatment involved a two-step extraction with chloroform. The analytes were separated on a column packed with OmniSpher C18 material and eluted with acetonitrile-0.1 M ammonium acetate, pH 7.2 (70:30, v/v). The column effluent was monitored by UV detection at 330 nm. A linear response was achieved over the concentration range 0.50-100.00 microM using multilevel calibration with an internal standard. The analytical method inter- and intra-run accuracy and precision were better than +/-15%. The lower limit of quantification was 0.50 microM. The method has been applied to study the preclinical pharmacokinetics of this compound in rats.     

湘西蛇足石杉中石杉碱甲、乙和丙含量的测定

采用超声萃取法提取湘西蛇足石杉总生物碱,用高效液相色谱法同时测定其石杉碱甲、乙和丙含量,并分析其在植株不同部位的分布。结果表明:湘西4个样地蛇足石杉中石杉碱甲、乙和丙含量基本一致,分别达到0.5‰、0.3‰和0.04‰;但植株不同部位三种石杉碱含量差异显著,其中石杉碱甲和乙的分布均为叶>茎>根,石杉碱丙则是根大于叶和茎。由此可知,湘西蛇足石杉具有资源优势,石杉碱在植株的分布具有明显的部位选择性;采用HPLC可同时检测石杉碱甲、乙和丙,方法简单快速、准确可靠。     

Simultaneous determination of 6beta-hydroxycortisol and cortisol in human urine by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance detection for phenotyping the CYP3A activity determined by the cortisol 6beta-hydroxylation clearance

This study describes a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of 6beta-hydroxycortisol (6beta-OHF) and cortisol in human urine using either methylprednisolone or beclomethasone as internal standard. Separation was achieved on a reversed-phase phenyl column by a gradient elution of 0.05 M KH(2)PO(4)-0.01 M CH(3)COOH (pH 3.77) and 0.05 M KH(2)PO(4)-0.01 M CH(3)COOH with acetonitrile (4:6, v/v). 6beta-Hydroxycortisol and cortisol were monitored by UV absorption at 239 nm. The lower quantitation limits of the present HPLC method were 21.5 ng/ml for 6beta-OHF and 5.0 ng/ml for cortisol in urine. The within-day reproducibilities in the amounts of 6beta-OHF and cortisol determined were in good agreement with the actual amounts added, the relative error being less than 1.59%. The inter-assay precisions (R.S.D. values) were less than 7.91% for 6beta-OHF and cortisol. The method was compared with the GC/MS method by measuring 6beta-OHF in the same urine samples. A good correlation was found between the amounts determined by the two methods. The regression equations for the HPLC (y) and GC/MS (x) methods were: y=1.0701x+17.389 (r=0.9772) for methylprednisolone as internal standard and y=1.0827x+6.1364 (r=0.9794) for beclomethasone as internal standard.     

Optimization of a solid-phase extraction method for determination of indapamide in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography

A new simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV detection for the determination of indapamide in biological fluids has been developed. Indapamide and internal standard were isolated from serum and whole blood samples by solid-phase extraction with RP select B cartridges. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a reversed-phase C(8) column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% (v/v) triethylamine in water (pH 3.5) and acetonitrile (63:37, v/v). UV detection was set at 240 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 10.0-100.0 ng/ml for serum, and 50.0-500.0 ng/ml for whole blood, and the limits of quantification were 10.0 and 50.0 ng/ml, respectively.     

Liquid chromatography method for quantifying D-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-threo-PPMP) in mouse plasma and liver

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to measure levels of d-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (d-threo-PPMP) in mouse plasma and liver. d-threo-PPMP was measured by HPLC with a Luna Pheny-Hexyl column (5 microm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm) employing UV detection at 210 nm using a mobile phase of potassium phosphate buffer (20mM, pH 3.0)-acetonitrile in a 45:55 (v/v) ratio. d-threo-1-phenyl-2-pentadecanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PC15MP) was employed as an internal standard (IS). The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.3 microg/ml. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 0.3-10 microg/ml, with acceptable precision and accuracy. Assayed in plasma, the intra- and inter-day validation for all coefficients of variation (R.S.D.%) were found less than 15%. The method was applied to samples from athymic (nu/nu) mice treated with d-threo-PPMP by intraperitoneal injection. d-threo-PPMP levels of approximately 10-20 microg/ml ( approximately 20-40 microM) in plasma and approximately 45 microg/g in liver were obtained. The present method can be used to quantify d-threo-PPMP in mice for bioavailability and dose-response studies.     

Measurement of urinary N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine by high-performance liquid chromatography with direct ultraviolet detection

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the determination of urinary N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC), the final product of the conjugation reaction between a metabolic intermediate of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and glutathione. Urine samples were purified by C(18) solid-phase extraction and then directly analysed by HPLC with an Aminex Ion Exclusion HPX-87H column maintained at 25 degrees C and a UV detector set at 196 nm. Under isocratic conditions (2.4 mM sulphuric acid, flow-rate=0.6 ml/min) AMCC eluted at 20.2 min. The reproducibility (C.V.%) was 1.3-2.7% (intra- and inter-assay, N = 5); the accuracy was 98.0+/-1.7% at 10 mg/l and 101.9+/-1.5% at 800 mg/l (mean+/-SD, N = 3). AMCC was measured in urine from 22 exposed subjects. A strong correlation was found between AMCC and environmental DMF [AMCC (mg/g creatinine)=3.40xDMF (mg/m(3)) + 3.07; r=0.95], while in the urine of 20 unexposed subjects the concentration of AMCC was constantly below the detection limit of the method (0.9 mg/l in urine). The method described appears to be useful for the biological monitoring of DMF exposure.     

Quantification of lipopolysaccharides in outer membrane vesicle vaccines against meningococcal disease. High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the constituent 3-hydroxy-lauric acid.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for quantification of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs, endotoxins) in outer membrane vesicle vaccines against meningococcal disease has been developed. The LPS constituent, 3-hydroxy-lauric acid, served as marker substance for the quantification. LPS from the vaccine was precipitated by ethanol and the fatty acid constituents, including 3-hydroxy-lauric acid, were released by acidic hydrolysis, collected and purified by solid phase extraction on C18 disc-cartridges and converted into phenacyl esters for UV detection at 240 nm. Quantification of the derivatized 3-hydroxy-lauric acid was achieved by HPLC using a Brownlee RP-18 reversed phase column with acetonitrile/water (68:32, v/v) as mobile phase. The method was found to be linear over the range 3-49 microg LPS/ml with a sensitivity of 1.6 (microg/ml)(-1). The repeatability (within-day precision) of the method at three levels (3-49 microg LPS/ml) was 6-14% relative standard deviation and the intermediate (between-day) precision was 7% relative standard deviation (at level 15 microg LPS/ml). The method has been successfully used in the quality control of a meningococcal B outer membrane vesicle vaccine, containing 4-8% LPS relative to protein (w/w), in our laboratory for three years.     

The evaluation of inhibitive effectiveness of the tumour necrosis factor-α converting enzyme selective inhibitors by HPLC

A novel high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method based on the internal standard method was established for assaying the tumour necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE) activity and matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) activity, and was used to evaluate the inhibitive effectiveness of inhibitors to TACE and MMP-9. In the assay method for TACE and MMP-9, peptides labelled with the ultraviolet group-Dpa were used as substrates. Alanine-Dpa was synthesised and was used as the internal standard for quantitative analysis. After the peptide substrates were hydrolysed by TACE (MMP-9) for 15 min (25 min) at 37 °C, the amount of remaining substrates were determined by reversed-phased HPLC with UV detection at 353 nm. The relative peak area of the substrate was linearly dependent on the substrate concentration. This method was then applied to determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC??) of GM6001 and inhibitor A for both TACE and MMP-9.     

Measurement of the anti-cancer agent gemcitabine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase HPLC assay has been developed to determine the concentration of the anti-metabolite 2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (gemcitabine, dFdC) in human plasma over the concentration range of 0.5-150 microM (0.13-39.44 microg/ml), and 2',2'-difluorodeoxyuridine (dFdU), the deaminated, inactive metabolite, over the range of 1.0-227 microM (0.26-60 microg/ml). After the addition of 20 nmol 2'-fluorodeoxycytidine (FdC) as an internal standard, 0.5-ml samples of plasma were subjected to acetonitrile precipitation, followed by analysis using a gradient reversed-phase HPLC assay with UV detection. A Phenomenex Columbus C(18) column, 5 microm, 150 x 4.6 mm, and a Waters C(18), 4 microm, Nova-Pak Sentry guard column were used to achieve separation. FdC, dFdC and dFdU were monitored at 282, 269 and 258 nm, respectively, on a Waters 996 photodiode array detector. The mobile phase, run at a total flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min, was composed of two solvents: 50 mM ammonium acetate pH 5.0 in either 2% (solvent A) or 10% methanol (solvent B, v/v); 100% solvent A was run for 17 min, followed by a linear gradient to 100% solvent B over 14 min. FdC, dFdC and dFdU were resolved from endogenous compounds and had retention times of 13.6+/-0.5, 18.1+/-1.1 and 29.0+/-0.6 min, respectively. The assay was useful in measuring the plasma levels of both analytes in samples obtained from adult cancer patients participating in a Phase I trial of gemcitabine given as either a 1- or 2-h infusion weekly for 3 of 4 weeks.     

High-performance liquid chromatography method for the quantification of pantoprazole in human plasma

A sensitive and selective HPLC method with UV detection (290 nm) was developed and validated for quantitation of pantoprazole, proton-pump inhibitor, in human plasma. Following a single-step liquid-liquid extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether/diethyl ether (70/30, v/v), the analyte and internal standard (zonisamide) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase of 10mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.0)/acetonitrile (61/39, v/v) on reverse phase Waters symmetry C18 column. The lower limit of quantitation was 20 ng/mL, with a relative standard deviation of less than 4%. A linear range of 20-5000 ng/mL was established. This HPLC method was validated with between-batch and within-batch precision of 1.3-3.2% and 0.7-3.3%, respectively. The between-batch and within-batch bias was -0.5 to 8.2 % and -2.5 to 12.1%, respectively. This validated method is sensitive and repeatable enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of apovincaminic acid in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using solid-phase extraction and ultraviolet detection

A new, simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection has been developed for the determination of apovincaminic acid in human plasma. Apovincaminic acid and internal standard were isolated from plasma samples by solid-phase extraction with OASIS HLB cartridges. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a reversed-phase C(18) column and UV detection was set at 311 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 2.4-240.0 ng/ml, and the limits of quantification was 2.4 ng/ml. The precision and accuracy ranged from 0.84 to 8.54% and 91.5 to 108.3%, respectively. The developed method was subsequently applied to study the pharmacokinetics of apovincaminic acid in a group of 20 human subjects at a single oral dose of 10mg of vinpocetine tablet.