| Abstract: | A simple approach to the quantitation of ciprofloxacin and its three metabolites, M1 (desethylene-ciprofloxacin), M2 (sulfo-ciprofloxacin) and M3 (oxo-ciprofloxacin), in human serum, urine, saliva and sputum is described. This assay allows the parent drug and its metabolites to elute and be resolved in a single chromatogram at 280 nm using a linear gradient. The procedure involved liquid—liquid extraction. Separation was achieved on a C18 reversed-phase column. The limit of detection of ciprofloxacin is 0.05 μg/ml and that of its three metabolites is 0.25 μg/ml. This method is sufficiently sensitive for pharmacokinetic studies. |
