Multivariate optimisation of microwave-assisted extraction of capsaicin from Capsicum frutescens L. and quantitative analysis by 1H-NMR

A simple and rapid microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure combined with 1H-NMR spectrometry was developed and optimised for the extraction and quantitative determination of capsaicin in Capsicum frutescens. The influence of experimental variables, including irradiation power, extraction temperature and dynamic extraction time before reaching the selected extraction temperature, on the performance of the extraction procedure was systematically studied using a Box-Behnken experimental design followed by a conventional central composite design approach. Statistical treatment of the results together with results from some additional experiments suggested optimum extraction conditions as 120 degrees C and 150 W, for 15 min with acetone as extractant. The optimised MAE method provides extracts that can be analysed quantitatively using 1H-NMR without any preliminary clean-up or derivatisation steps. In the 1H-NMR spectrum of the crude extracts the doublet signal in the delta range 4.349-4.360 ppm was well separated from other resonances in deuterated chloroform. The quantity of the compound was calculated from the relative ratio of the integral value of the target peak to that of a known amount of dimethylformamide as internal standard. In comparison with traditional Soxhlet extraction, the proposed method is less labour-intensive and provides a drastic reduction of extraction time and solvent consumption. In addition, MAE showed higher extraction yield and selectivity, with comparable reproducibility and recovery, relative to both conventional Soxhlet and sonication methods.     

Optimisation and validation of a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography assay for routine measurement of pyridoxal 5-phosphate in human plasma and red cells using pre-column semicarbazide derivatisation

There are few studies in which direct measurement of vitamin B6 status in both plasma and red cells has been assessed. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the use of a simple, robust HPLC method of direct pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) measurement in plasma and red cells and to assess its use in establishing reference ranges in a healthy population. A reverse phase HPLC method with pre-column derivatisation using semicarbazide for the simultaneous measurement of PLP, its degradation product, 4-pyridoxic acid (PA) and pyridoxal (PL) in plasma and red cells was developed. Pre-column derivatisation, reverse phase chromatography and detection procedures were optimised. The recovery, precision, linearity and sensitivity of the assay for plasma and red cell PLP, PA and PL was established. The recovery of PLP was greater than 95% for both plasma and red cell samples. The Intra and Inter batch imprecision for PLP was less than 6% and 7%, respectively. The method for PLP was linear up to at least 1000 nmol/l and the detection limit was 2.1 nmol/l (limit of quantification; 5.8 nmol/l). Accuracy of PLP measurements in plasma were acceptable, showing a mean bias of 4.5% from the mean value of laboratories (N=34) participating in an external quality assurance scheme. Geometric mean (95% reference intervals) for plasma and red cell PLP in the healthy subjects (N=126) were 56 (21-138) nmol/l and 410 (250-680) pmol/g Hb, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation (r(2)=0.81) between plasma and red cell PLP levels in the reference population. The HPLC method described was found to be suitable for the routine measurement of PLP in both plasma and red cells.     

Gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry using o-(pentafluorobenzyloxycarbonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzoyl derivatives for the quantitative determination of methylphenidate in human plasma

A novel electrophoric derivatisation procedure using o-(pentafluorobenzyloxycarbonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzoyl chloride for the quantitative determination of methylphenidate in human plasma is described. The drug can be quantitatively measured down to 0.006 pg/mL plasma due to the extraordinary sensitivity of the derivatives under negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. Plasma samples were made alkaline with carbonate buffer and treated with extraction solvent (n-hexane) and reagent solution for 15 min, which, after concentration was measured by GC-NICI-MS. The method is rapid as extraction and derivatisation occur in one single step. A stable isotope labelled internal standard was used. Validation data are given to demonstrate the usefulness of the assay, including selectivity, linearity, accuracy and precision, autosampler stability, aliquot analysis, robustness, and prospective analytical batch size accuracy. The method has been successfully applied to pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug after oral administration.     

Simple and selective determination of the cyclophosphamide metabolite phosphoramide mustard in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and selective assay for the determination of the alkylating cyclophosphamide metabolite phosphoramide mustard (PM) in plasma was developed and validated. PM was determined after derivatisation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection at 276 nm. Sample pre-treatment consisted of derivatisation of PM with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) at 70°C for 10 min, followed by extraction with acetonitrile in the presence of 0.7 M sodium chloride. Phase separation occurred due to the high salt content of the aqueous phase. The HPLC system consisted of a C₈ column with acetonitrile–0.025 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0, (32:68, v/v) as the mobile phase. The entire sample handling procedure, from collection at the clinical ward until analysis in the laboratory, was optimised and validated. Calibration curves were linear from 50 to 10 000 ng/ml. The lower limit of quantification and the limit of detection (using a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were 50 and 40 ng/ml, respectively, using 500 μl of plasma. Within-day and between-day precisions were below 11% over the entire concentration range and the accuracies were between 100 and 106%. PM was found to be stable at −30°C for at least 10 weeks both in plasma and as a DDTC-derivative in a dry sample. A pharmacokinetic pilot study in two patients receiving 1000 mg/m² CP in a 1-h infusion demonstrated the applicability of the assay.     

Analysis of ifosforamide mustard, the active metabolite of ifosfamide, in plasma

Ifosforamide mustard is the active metabolite of ifosfamide, a cytostatic drug. In this study a sensitive and selective method for the analysis of ifosforamide mustard in plasma is described. The method consists of direct derivatisation of ifosforamide mustard in plasma with diethyldithiocarbamate and subsequent solid-phase extraction of the resulting derivative. The analysis of the derivatisation product was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The calibration graph was linear in the concentration range 0.45–45 μM and the minimum detectable concentration was 0.45 μmol. The samples were stabilised by addition of semicarbazide and sodium chloride. A patient's plasma sample was analysed by means of the described method. The ifosforamide mustard concentration was 2.3 μM.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of cyclosporin A in rat blood and liver using a commercially available internal standard

An automated and rapid method for quantifying malondialdehyde (MDA) in breath condensate was developed and validated. The method is based on derivatisation with thiobarbituric acid, HPLC separation and fluorescence detection and is optimised for determination of MDA in breath condensate. Sample collection is non-invasive and simple. The detection limit (4.1 nM) is low, precision is good and the analysis time is short. The response is linear in the concentration range of 0.020 to 1.0 microM. Samples could be stored for 1 month at -20 degrees C and for 3 months at -80 degrees C without losses. Using this method, there was no statistically significant difference between patients with asthma and patients without asthma. However, among females, subjects with asthma had higher MDA levels as compared to females without asthma (0.17 vs. 0.12 pmol/s, p=0.04). The use of the method when studying airway inflammation has to be further evaluated.     

Improved sample preparation for the quantitative analysis of paroxetine in human plasma by stable isotope dilution negative ion chemical ionisation gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An improved sample work-up and derivatisation procedure for the quantitative determination of paroxetine in human plasma by gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry is presented. Solvent extraction from plasma samples at alkaline pH was combined with derivatisation to the pentafluorobenzyl carbamate derivative in one step and subsequently analysed without any further purification. Thus, lengthy and time-consuming solvent evaporation steps are avoided to assure high-throughput analysis. Complete validation data are presented. The method is rugged, rapid and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of paroxetine during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug.     

Synthesis of a deuterated analogue and development of antibody/GC/MS for the determination of nocloprost in plasma

An analytical method for the determination of the PGE derivative nocloprost in plasma was developed combining the features of both radioimmunoassay and GC/MS. The antibody usually employed in nocloprost radioimmunoassay was coupled to Sepharose 4B and used as a stationary phase for the extraction of the drug. After appropriate derivatisation, nocloprost was determined by GC/MS in the negative ion-chemical ionisation mode. As an internal standard deuterated nocloprost was synthesized and added to the plasma samples before extraction. The extraction recovery was 94% and the limit of detection was 5 pg/ml. Intra- and interassay precision at 100 pg/ml was calculated as 3.3 and 4.0%, respectively.     

Improved method for plasma malondialdehyde measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography using methyl malondialdehyde as an internal standard

Measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) is an important contribution to the assessment of oxidative stress. We report a sensitive and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for measurement of plasma MDA in the assessment of lipid peroxidation. Using methyl malondialdehyde (Me-MDA) as an internal standard with reversed-phase HPLC and UV detection and derivatisation with 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), we obtained maximum MDA values with 60-min incubation of 10% plasma with 1 M NaOH at 60 degrees C. The dilution of the plasma and a longer incubation time in the alkaline hydrolysis step greatly improved recovery of MDA from its bound form. Ratios of peak height of MDA/Me-MDA were linear over a range of 0-100 microM with correlation coefficients >0.99. The recovery was 88.5%. Within and between run variations were <4 and <7%, respectively. The mean MDA value measured in 20 healthy volunteers was 13.8 microM (+/-1.32).     

Synthesis of a deuterated analogue and development of antibody/GC/MS for the determination of nocloprost in plasma

An analytical method for the determination of the PGE derivative nocloprost in plasma was developed combining the features of both radioimmunoassay and GC/MS. The antibody usually employed in nocloprost radioimmunoassay was coupled to Sepharose 4B and used as a stationary phase for the extraction of the drug. After appropriate derivatisation, nocloprost was determined by GC/MS in the negative ion-chemical ionisation mode. As an internal standard deuterated nocloprost was synthesized and added to the plasma samples before extraction. The extraction recovery was 94% and the limiy of detection was 5 pg/ml. Intra- and interassay precision at 100 pg/ml was calculated as 3.3 and 4.0%, respectively.     

Determination of the acylcoenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor 447C88 in plasma using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometry

Two mass spectrometry-based methods are described for the determination of 447C88 (I), a novel inhibitor of acylcoenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), in rat, dog and human plasma. The first method uses gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron ionisation and selected-ion monitoring. The method employs solid-phase extraction of I from plasma and requires alkylation of I using iodoethane. The second method uses liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) with atmospheric-pressure chemical-ionisation and selected-reaction monitoring. The LC-MS-MS method uses a simplified version of the extraction procedure used for GC-MS and does not require derivatisation of I. While both methods provide the necessary limit of quantitation of 0.5 ng/ml in human, dog and rat plasma with the required precision and accuracy, the LC-MS-MS assay offers increased sensitivity, selectivity and speed over the GC-MS assay. This allows a same day turn round of results for in excess of 100 samples, including sample preparation and data acquisition and processing.     

Optimisation of an extraction method for the determination of prostaglandin E2 in plasma using experimental design and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A new extraction method has been developed for the extraction of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) from human plasma of patients suffering chronic inflammatory disorders. The extraction solvents were optimised systematically and simultaneously by using a central composite design. The optimised method involves precipitation of the protein fraction, centrifugation, evaporation and dissolution of the supernatant in the mobile phase, screening to confirm the presence of the analyte, and quantification of the positive samples by liquid chromatography tandem ion-trap mass spectrometry. Tandem mass spectrometry in negative mode was performed by isolating and fragmenting the ion [PGE(2)-H](-) signal m/z 351. Identification and quantification was carried out by extracting the ion fragment chromatograms at 333, 315 and 271 m/z. The quantitative determination was linear for the low nanogram (1-50 ng/ml) and upper picogram (400-1000 pg/ml) range studied, using 15 and 0.5 ng/ml of internal standard, respectively. The lower limit of detection was 2.5 pg for an injection volume of 25 microl. The optimised extraction method showed high reproducibility (coefficients of variation<4%) and recovery values, estimated from standard addition experiments, ranging from 96 to 98%.     

Capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection for the determination of carnitine and acylcarnitines in clinical samples

A capillary electrophoresis method with contactless conductivity detection was developed for the quantification of carnitine and six acylcarnitines in plasma and urine samples. The running buffer employed consisted of 500 mmol/L acetic acid, 1.0 mmol/L hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and 0.05% Tween at a pH of 2.6. Under these conditions, the isomeric valproyl- and octanoyl-carnitines could be distinguished. The linearity was in the range from 5.0 to 200.0 μmol/L with correlation coefficients between 0.9992 and 0.9997. The limits of detection were between 1.0 and 3.2 μmol/L. Intra- and inter-day precisions as %RSD were better than 10%. The method allows for direct determination without derivatisation or extraction processes. The method was applied for the quantification of carnitine and acetylcarnitine in plasma pre- and post-exercise, and to measure valproylcarnitine in plasma and urine of patients undergoing valproate therapy.     

The simple and sensitive measurement of malondialdehyde in selected specimens of biological origin and some feed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

A method for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in specimens of animal tissues and feed has been developed using high performance liquid chromatography. The MDA concentration in acidified urine samples was determined after its conversion with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) to a hydrazone (MDA-DNPH). Samples of blood plasma, muscle, liver and feed were prepared by saponification followed by derivatisation with DNPH to MDA-DNPH. The MDA concentration in chicken and hen feed samples was analysed after saponification and derivatisation followed by extractions with hexane. The free MDA in plasma samples was determined after deproteinization followed by derivatisation of MDA with DNPH. The chromatographic separation of MDA-DNPH samples was conducted using Phenomenex C(18)-columns (Synergi 2.5 μm, Hydro-RP, 100 ?, the length of 100mm) with an inner diameter of 2 or 3mm. MDA in processed biological samples was analysed using a linear gradient of acetonitrile in water, and the photodiode detector was set to 307 or 303 nm for detection. The current method that was utilised was based on the high-efficient derivatisation of MDA and was more sensitive compared to previously used methods. The selective and sensitive photodetection of the column effluent was found to be suitable for the routine analysis of MDA in urine, plasma, muscles and liver of animals and some feed samples. Because urine or blood plasma samples can be derivatised in a simple manner, the proposed method can also be suitable for the routine, non-invasive evaluation of oxidative stress in animals and humans.     

Quantitative determination of astilbin in rabbit plasma by liquid chromatography

A simple method for determining the concentration of astilbin, a flavanone, in rabbit plasma has been developed. After liquid-liquid extraction, the flavanone was detected by HPLC on a 4.6-microm octadecylsilica column (Nova-Pak C-18) at 291 nm. Linear calibration graphs for astilbin were constructed from 0.44 to 22.17 microM. The limit of quantitation was 0.44 microM in plasma. The method has been applied to pharmacokinetic studies after a single i.v. and an oral administration of the compound to rabbits.     

Performance evaluation of a reversed-phase,high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of valproic acid involving a “solvent demixing” extraction procedure and precolumn derivatisation

As previously shown by others, the antiepileptic drug valproic acid can be assayed in biological fluids by reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatisation with a bromomethyl aryl ketone through crown-ether catalysis. It is possible to extract the drug directly into acetonitrile, the solvent used for its derivatisation: when an excess of some salt such as NaCl is added to a mixture of plasma and acetonitrile, the organic solvent separates and valproic acid is extracted into it with a high recovery yield. This “solvent demixing” extraction method has shown excellent reproducibility, as well as promising versatility. Derivatisation, still in acetonitrile, using bromomethyl naphthyl ketone and 15-crown-5 allowed us to get rid of the current heating step without markedly increasing the delay of reaction. Chromatography was performed on a C-18 bonded stationary phase with acetonitrile—water as mobile phase, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid as internal standard and ultraviolet spectrophotometric detection. Statistical analysis of results shows 80% recovery of extraction, good linearity and an inter-extract variation coefficient of 4%, the last mainly ascribable to chromatographic measurements. Recovery is readily improved by increasing the amount of acetonitrile, which was equal to that of plasma in our experiments, since the high sensitivity of detection can tolerate the resulting decrease of valproic acid concentration in the extract.     

Determination of l-arginine and NG, NG - and NG, NG' -dimethyl-L-arginine in plasma by liquid chromatography as AccQ-Fluor fluorescent derivatives

A new HPLC assay for the detection of L-arginine, NG, NG-dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) and NG, NG' -dimethyl-L-arginine (SDMA) in plasma using the derivatisation reagent AccQ-Fluor (6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate) is described. The fluorescent derivatives produced are extremely stable enabling routine processing of large numbers of samples. Arginine and its metabolites are extracted from plasma on strong cation exchange (SCX) cartridges with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) as internal standard, derivatised and separated on a C18 column with acetonitrile in 0.1M sodium acetate buffer pH 6. Separation of the stereoisomers ADMA and SDMA was excellent and improvements to the solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure enabled good recovery (>80%) of arginine, ADMA and SDMA. The utility of the method is exemplified by comparison of plasma concentrations of ADMA, SDMA and arginine in healthy volunteers and diabetic/ischaemic patients.     

HPLC analysis of asymmetric dimethylarginine,symmetric dimethylarginine,homoarginine and arginine in small plasma volumes using a Gemini-NX column at high pH

There is increasing recognition of the clinical importance of endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in critical illness. This has highlighted the need for an accurate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for detection of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in small volumes of blood. Here, the validation of an accurate, precise HPLC method for the determination of ADMA, SDMA, homoarginine and arginine concentrations in plasma is described. Solid phase extraction is followed by derivatisation with AccQ-Fluor™ and reversed phase separation on a Gemini-NX column at pH 9. Simultaneous detection by both UV–vis and fluorescence detectors affords extra validation. This solid phase extraction method gives absolute recoveries of more than 85% for ADMA and SDMA and relative recoveries of 102% for ADMA and 101% for SDMA. The intra-assay relative standard deviations are 2.1% and 2.3% for ADMA and SDMA, respectively, with inter-assay relative standard deviations of 2.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Advantages of this method include improved recovery of all analytes using isopropanol in the solid phase extraction; sharp, well-resolved chromatographic peaks using a high pH mobile phase; a non-endogenous internal standard, n-propyl l-arginine; and accurate and precise determination of methylated arginine concentrations from only 100 μL of plasma.     

Automated gas chromatographic assay for amlodipine in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid

This paper describes an automated capillary gas chromatographic method for the determination of amlodipine in plasma, and in sub-microlitre volumes of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), in order to assess if amlodipine is present in GCF under conditions of gingival overgrowth, as has been shown for nifedipine, another dihydropyridine drug. Liquid-liquid extraction followed by derivatisation was employed to isolate amlodipine and render it suitable for gas chromatography. Amlodipine was analysed in plasma and GCF of four patients undergoing amlodipine therapy for cardiovascular disorders, three of whom had significant gingival overgrowth. Amlodipine was detected in the plasma of all patients and in massive concentrations in the GCG of those patients with overgrowth, 23- to 290-fold greater than in their plasma. Like nifedipine, amlodipine sequestration into GCF appears to be linked with gingival overgrowth.     

Quantitative determination of 5-aminolaevulinic acid and its esters in cell lysates by HPLC-fluorescence

The development of a reliable sensitive method for the HPLC determination of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and ALA esters in cell lysates is described. The method relies on the quantification of a fluorescent derivative of ALA following its derivatisation with acetylacetone and formaldehyde. Following this procedure it is possible to quantify ALA in cell lysates with no need for pre-purification of the sample. The method has been validated in two ranges of concentration (0.6-65 microM, 0.1-10 microg/mL, and 30-600 microM, 5-100 microg/mL), and has also been extended and validated for the determination of ALA released from ALA prodrugs after acidic hydrolysis.