A simple HPLC method for the quantification of mizoribine in human serum: pharmacokinetic applications

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the quantification of mizoribine in human serum. After the addition of 70% perchloric acid and 3-methylxanthine (50 microg/mL, internal standard) to human serum, the samples were mixed and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm (1432 g) for 10 min. The supernatant was injected onto a C(18) column eluted with a mobile phase of 20 mm Na2HPO4 and methanol (93:7, v/v, pH 3) containing 0.04% octanesulfonic acid and detected utilizing an ultraviolet detector at 275 nm. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1-4.0 microg/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 0.1 microg/mL. This method was validated with selectivity, linearity, precision and accuracy. In addition, the method was successfully applied to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of mizoribine in Korean subjects following an oral administration of 100 mg mizoribine (two Bredinine 50 mg tablets). The maximum serum concentration (C(max)) of 2.30 +/- 0.83 microg/mL was reached 2.27 +/- 0.66 h after an oral dose. The mean AUC(0-12 h) and the elimination half-life (t(1/2)) were 13.2 +/- 4.79 microg h/mL and 3.10 +/- 0.74 h, respectively.     

高效液相色谱法测定大鼠血浆中的原儿茶酸

建立了大鼠血浆中原儿茶酸含量测定的高效液相色谱方法。采用的色谱柱为DiamondsilTM C18 柱(150 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm);流动相为乙腈-水(体积比为9∶91,用H3PO4 调pH至2.5);流速1.2 mL/min;检测波长260 nm;内标为对羟基苯甲酸。原儿茶酸的线性范围为0.050~3.20 mg/L,线性相关系数为0.9978，最低定量限为0.050 mg/L,日内和日间测定的精密度（以相对标准偏差表示）均低于7.0%,准确度（以相对误差表示）为-1.4%～2.6%；在0.050,0.40,3.20 mg/L低、中、高3个添加浓度水平下，血浆样品的提取回收率分别为83.4%,87.3%,91.1%。该方法简便,灵敏,准确,适用于大鼠体内原儿茶酸的药物动力学研究。     

Development of an HPLC method for the determination of salidroside in beagle dog plasma after administration of salidroside injection: application to a pharmacokinetics study

A simple RP-HPLC method was established for the determination of salidroside in dog plasma. Salidroside is one of the most active ingredients of Rhodiola L. The method had within-run precision values in the range of +/- 2.3 to +/- 9.1% (n = 5) and between-run precision in the range of +/- 3.2 to +/- 9.8%. A simple protein precipitation for salidroside extraction was processed using ACN at precipitant-to-plasma volume ratio (P-P ratio) of 3:2. The extraction recoveries of salidroside at seven concentrations were higher than 63.2%. There was a linear relationship between chromatographic area and concentration over the range of 0.83-520 microg/mL for salidroside in plasma (R = 0.9926). The LOQ (S/N = 10) of the method was 0.83 microg/mL. The method was applied in a study of the pharmacokinetics of salidroside injection in six beagle dogs. The major pharmacokinetic parameters of C(max), AUC(0-24), AUC(0-infinity), and t(1/2) of salidroside in beagle dogs after i.v. administration of a single 75 mg/kg (5 mL/kg) dose were 96.16 +/- 8.59 microg/mL, 180.3 +/- 30.6 microg h/mL, 189.3 +/- 32.1 microg h/mL, and 2.006 +/- 0.615 h, respectively.     

Determination of huperzine A in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: application to a bioequivalence study on Chinese volunteers

A simple, sensitive and selective LC-MS-MS method has been developed for the quantification of huperzine A in human plasma. Huperzine A and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (internal standard) were isolated from human plasma by extraction with ethyl acetate, chromatographed on a C(18) column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.2% formic acid-methanol (15:85, v/v) and detected using a tandem mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization interface. The lower limit of quantification was 0.0508 ng/mL, and the assay exhibited a linear range of 0.0508-5.08 ng/mL (r = 0.9998). The method was successfully applied to investigate the bioequivalence between two kinds of tablets (test vs reference product) in 18 healthy male Chinese volunteers. After a single 0.2 mg dose for the test and reference product, the resulting means of major pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC(0-24), AUC(0-infinity), C(max), T(max) and t(1/2) of huperzine A were 16.35 +/- 3.42 vs 16.38 +/- 3.61 ng h/mL, 17.53 +/- 3.80 vs 17.70 +/- 3.97 ng h/mL, 2.47 +/- 0.49 vs 2.51 +/- 0.51 ng/mL, 1.3 +/- 0.4 vs 1.2 +/- 0.3 h and 5.92 +/- 0.75 vs 6.18 +/- 0.66 h, respectively, indicating that these two kinds of tablets were bioequivalent.     

Determination of secnidazole in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection and its application to the bioequivalence studies

A simple, accurate, precise and sensitive HPLC-UV method was developed for the determination of secnidazole in human plasma. Secnidazole and tinidazole (IS) were extracted from 0.2 mL of human plasma by ethyl acetate. Secnidazole was then separated by HPLC on a Diamond C(18) column and quantified by ultraviolet detection at 319 nm. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-aqueous 5 mm sodium acetate (30:70, v/v) containing of 0.1% acetic acid adjusted to pH 4.0, and the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The low limit of quantification was 0.1 microg/mL. The method was linear over the concentration range 0.1-25.0 microg/mL (R(2) = 1.000). The recovery of secnidazole from human plasma ranged from 76.5 to 89.1%. Inter- and intra-assay precision ranged from 3.3 to 10.7%. Secnidazole in plasma was stable when stored at ambient temperature for 8 h, at -20 degrees C for 2 weeks and at -20 degrees C for three freeze-thaw cycles. The developed method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies between test and reference secnidazole tablets following a single 500 mg oral dosage to 20 healthy volunteers of both genders. Pharmacokinetics parameters T(max), C(max), AUC(0-)t, AUC(0-infinity), T(1/2) were determined of both preparations. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show any significant difference between the two preparations and 90% confidence intervals fell within the acceptable range for bioequivalence. It was concluded that the two secnidazole preparations are bioequivalence and may be used interchangeably.     

Pharmacokinetic study of puerarin in rat serum by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and specific atmospheric pressure chemical ionization liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for serum pharmacokinetic studies of puerarin in rats. Chromatography was carried out on a reversed-phase Phenomenex Synergi 4 microm Fusion-RP80 column (150 x 2.0 mm i.d.) using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (10:90, v/v) in 10 mm NH(4)OAc with a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Puerarin was analyzed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode with a precursor/product ion transition of m/z 415/267. The method was demonstrated to be specific and sensitive, and a linear response was observed over a range of 2-5000 ng/mL in rat serum. The validated method was successfully applied to the characterization of the pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rat serum after oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats. The blood concentration-time profile of puerarin showed a rapid initial increase, reaching a maximum and then declining within 1 h. Puerarin could not be detected after 24 h. The main pharmacokinetic parameters for puerarin after oral administration were as follows: C(max) (3.54 +/- 2.03 mg/L), T(max) (0.68 +/- 0.37 h), AUC(0-t) (7.29 +/- 3.79 mg h/L), AUC(0-infinity) (9.17 +/- 4.87 mg h/L), T(1/2) (1.7 +/- 0.6 h), CL/F (7.24 +/- 4.27 L/h/kg) and V/F (17.88 +/- 13.55 L/h/kg).     

Rapid determination of anastrozole in plasma by gas chromatography with electron capture detection and its application to an oral pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers

A rapid, sensitive and accurate capillary gas chromatographic assay with (63)Ni electron capture detection was developed for the determination of anastrozole in human plasma. It comprises a one-step liquid-liquid extraction procedure and gas chromatography on a capillary column using constant oven temperature. This method has been applied to the oral pharmacokinetic study of anastrozole in healthy Chinese male volunteers. Pharmacokinetic parameters of two anastrozole preparations were evaluated after single, oral administrations to 18 subjects at a dose of 1 mg in a single-blind cross-over trial. Plasma anastrozole concentration-time profiles were best described by a two-compartment model. After oral administrations of imported and domestic anastrozole tablets, the t(max) and C(max) were 1.52 +/- 1.04 h and 8.75 +/- 3.03 ng/mL for the former, and 1.43 +/- 1.12 h and 9.44 +/- 3.59 ng/mL for the latter; the elimination half-life was 46.0 +/- 25.2 h vs 41.2 +/- 8.8 h, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 423 +/- 114 ng h/mL vs 444 +/- 157 ng h/mL. The result indicates that the two products are bioequivalent.     

Quantification of nimesulide in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV): application to pharmacokinetic studies in 28 healthy Korean subjects

Nimesulide is a selective COX-2 inhibitor that is as effective as the classical non-acidic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the relief of various pain and inflammatory conditions, but is better tolerated with lower incidences of adverse effects than other drugs. After oral dose of 100 mg nimesulide to western subjects, a mean maximal concentration (C(max)) of 2.86 ～ 6.5 μg/mL was reached at 1.22 ～ 2.75 h and mean t(1/2β) of 1.8 ～ 4.74 h. This study developed a robust method for quantification of nimesulide for the pharmacokinetics and suitability of its dosage in Korea and compared its suitability with other racial populations. Nimesulide and internal standard were extracted from acidified samples with methyl tert-butyl ether and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The 28 healthy volunteers took 2 tablets of 100 mg nimesulide and blood concentrations were analyzed during the 24 h post dose. Several pharmacokinetic parameters were represented: AUC(0-infinity) = 113.0 mg-h/mL, C(max) = 12.06 mg/mL, time for maximal concentrations (T(max)) = 3.19 h and t(1/2β) = 4.51 h. These were different from those of western populations as follows: AUC was 14.5% and C(max) was 28% that of of Korean subjects and T(max) and t(1/2β) were also different. The validated HPLC-UV method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic studies of nimesulide in Korean subjects. Because the pharmacokinetics of nimesulide were different from western populations, its dosage regimen needs to be adjusted for Koreans.     

Determination of ligustilide in rat blood and tissues by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was developed to study the pharmacokinetics of ligustilide following oral administration to rats. The method was used for the analysis of samples taken from rats. Biological samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using an n-hexane-ether (2:1) solvent mixture for a sample clean-up step and analyzed by GC/MS with a quadrupole MS detector in selected ion monitoring mode (m/z 190). The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 0.172-8.60 microg/mL (r > 0.99) for blood samples and a different range (r > 0.99) for different tissue samples. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1.0 ng/mL or 1.0 ng/g (three times the signal-noise ratio). Within- and between-day precision expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD) for the method was 1.58-3.88 and 2.99-4.91%, respectively. The recovery for all samples was >80%, except for liver samples (>70%). The main pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were: T(max) = 0.65 +/- 0.07 h, C(max) = 1.5 +/- 0.2 microg/mL, AUC = 34 +/- 6 h microg/mL and K(a) = 3.5 +/- 0.6/h. The experimental results showed that ligustilide was easily absorbed, but its elimination was slow, from 3 to 12 h after oral administration. The concentrations of ligustilide in rat cerebellum, cerebrum, spleen and kidney were higher than those in other organs.     

HPLC analysis and pharmacokinetics of icariin in rats

As a prerequisite to the determination of pharmacokinetic parameters of icariin in rats, an HPLC method using UV detection was developed and validated. Icariin and the internal standard, quercetin, were extracted from plasma samples using ethyl acetate after acidification with 0.05 mol/L NaH2PO4 solution (pH 5.0). Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent XDB Cls column (250 x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm) equipped with a Shim-pack GVP-ODS C18 guard column (10 x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm) using a mobile phase of ACN/water/acetic acid (31:69:0.4 v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/ min. Detection was at 277 nm. The calibration curve was linear from 0.05 to 100.0 microg/mL with 0.05 microg/mL as the lower LOQ (LLOQ) in plasma. The intra- and interday precisions in terms of RSD were lower than 5.7 and 7.8% in rat plasma, respectively. The accuracy in terms of relative error (RE) ranged from -1.6 to 3.2%. The extraction recoveries of icariin and quercetin were 87.6 and 80.1%, respectively. The main pharmacokinetic parameters for rats were determined after a single intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg icariin: t1/2, 0.562 +/- 0.200 h; AUC0-infinity, 8.73 +/- 2.23 microg x h/mL; CLToT, 20.10 +/- 5.80 L/kg x h; Vz, 1.037 +/- 0.631 L/kg; MRT0-infinity, 0.134 +/- 0.040 h; and Vss, 0.170 +/- 0.097 L/kg.     

Rapid and Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method for Quantification of Fexofenadine in Human Plasma——Application to a Bioequivalence Study in Chinese Volunteers

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method（LC-MS/MS）was developed and validated for the quantification of fexofenadine in human plasma,to conduct comparative bioavailability studies.Human plasma was extracted with a mixture of dichloromethane-diethyl ether（volume ratio 2∶3）in a basic environment and the extract was separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-methanol-10 mmol/L ammonium acetate（volume ratio 45∶45∶10）.The analytes were detected via electrospray ionization（ESI）tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple-reaction-monitoring（MRM）mode.The linearity was within a range of 1-1000 ng/mL.The intra-and inter-day precision were〈4.1% and〈4.8%,respectively,and the accuracy was in the range of 95.0%-105%.The method was applied to the quantification of fexofenadine human plasma from 20 healthy male Chinese volunteers,according to a single dose,randomized,two-way crossover design with a two-week washout period.The mean values of major pharmacokinetic parameters of ρmax,AUC0-48,AUC0-∞,tmax,and t1/2 were determined from the plasma concentration.The analysis of variance（ANOVA）did not show any significant difference between the two products of fexofenadine and 90% confidence intervals fell within the acceptable range for bioequivalence.     

人血清中地尔硫高效液相色谱法测定及药代动力学参数

 建立了反相高效液相色谱法监测人口服地尔硫艹卓缓释片后血药浓度。血样用正己烷－氯仿－异丙醇混合溶剂（６０４０５）提取后，以Ｃ１８化学键合硅胶为固定相，甲醇－水－三乙胺为流动相，安定为内标，在２３９ｎｍ波长处定量检测。血药浓度在１５～３００μｇ／Ｌ范围内线性关系良好，最低检测浓度为３μｇ／Ｌ。批内（ｎ＝７）及批间（ｎ＝５）测定相对标准偏差分别小于６．８％和８．４％，回收率为９１％～１０４％。监测了８名健康人口服盐酸地尔硫艹卓缓释片后的不同时间的血药浓度变化，计算了有关的药代动力学参数。     

高效液相色谱-质谱法测定比格犬血浆中的艾普拉唑及其药代动力学

运用高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱(HPLC-ESI-MS)技术,建立了快速、简单、灵敏的比格犬静脉滴注艾普拉唑钠盐后血药浓度的检测方法。血浆样品采用蛋白沉淀法,以丁螺环酮作为内标,色谱柱为Teknokroma Kromasil C18(100 mm×2.1 mm, 5 μm),流动相为水-甲醇-乙腈(69:8:23, v/v/v)(含0.1%的甲酸),流速0.2 mL/min,采用电喷雾(ESI)离子源以正离子方式检测。绘制血药浓度-时间曲线,并采用DAS 2.0计算药代动力学参数。方法学实验结果表明内源性杂质不干扰艾普拉唑和内标的测定,线性范围为5～10000 μg/L (r=0.994),最低定量限为5 μg/L,精密度和准确度均符合生物样品测定的要求。低、中、高3个浓度的绝对回收率在106%左右,基质效应小于142.0%,表明该方法适合比格犬血浆中艾普拉唑浓度的测定及药代动力学研究。比格犬静脉滴注艾普拉唑钠盐3个剂量(0.2 mg/kg、0.8 mg/kg和3.2 mg/kg)后的药-时曲线下面积(AUC(0~∞))分别为(2.4×104±3×103)、(8.8×104±1.6×104)和(5.4×105±8×104) μg/L•min,呈线性药物代谢动力学过程。     

Ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC method for determination of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate in biological samples and its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in mice

The ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC method for determination of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) in various biological samples was for the first time developed and validated, and was applied for pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies of intravenously administrated STS in mice. A linear relation was found between peak area and STS concentrations within the ranges of 0.1-5 micraog/ml for plasma, 0.1-5 microg/g of tissue for kidney homogenate, 0.1-20 microg/g of tissue for liver homogenate, 0.1-1 microg/g of tissue for heart, spleen and lung homogenates, respectively. In plasma and tissues, the limit of quantification (LOQ) and the limit of detection (LOD) for STS were 100 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml. In all biological specimens, the average inter- and intra-day precision of STS were within 4.9%. The recoveries were more than 92% at all concentration levels in each type of biological specimens. STS plasma concentration-time data were best fitted with a two-compartment model, characterized by an initial rapid phase of drug concentration decrease, and a slower terminal elimination phase. The pharmacokinetics of STS was characterized with a distribution half-life (t(1/2alpha)) of 1.2+/-0.18 min, a terminal half-life (t(1/2beta)) of 21.6+/-2.4 min, a distribution volume (V) of 0.057+/-0.011 l/kg, a plasma clearance (CL) of 0.86+/-0.12 l/h/kg and an AUC(0-infinity) of 58.41+/-6.21 microg x h/ml. STS was widely distributed into most tissues and was obviously accumulated in liver. This results indicated that STS may be promising to treat liver disease.     

Determination of ipriflavone in human plasma by LC-MS and its application in a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method was developed for the quantification of ipriflavone in human plasma. The method utilized liquid-liquid extraction of plasma with ethyl acetate. A gradient elution was performed on a Hedera ODS-2 column (150×2.1 mm i.d., 5 μm), using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid solution and methanol at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The single quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in selected-ion monitoring mode via positive electrospray ionization interface detecting m/z 239.1 and 285.1 for ipriflavone and diazepam (the internal standard), respectively. To improve the selectivity and sensitivity, the fragment ion m/z 239.1, which was produced by in-source collision-induced dissociation, was chosen as the quantitative ion for ipriflavone. The method was fully validated and applied to a pharmacokinetic study of ipriflavone. After oral administration of a single 200 mg ipriflavone tablet, the C(max,) AUC(0-72 h) , t(1/2) and T(max) were 6.3±6.3 ng/mL, 80.0±69.1 μg h/L, 23.0±8.6 h and 3.4±2.1 h, respectively.     

Determination of trimebutine maleate in rat plasma and tissues by using capillary zone electrophoresis.

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for the determination of trimebutine maleate in rat plasma and tissues. Rat plasma and tissue homogenates were mixed with acetonitrile containing internal standard, ephedrine hydrochloride, and then centrifuged. The supernatant was dried under a stream of nitrogen, and the residue was reconstituted in methanol-water (1:1). The electrophoresis was performed in uncoated capillary with 30 mmol/L phosphate buffer of pH 6.0 as the separation electrolyte. The applied voltage was 10 kV and the UV detection was set at 214 nm. The peak height ratio vs concentration in plasma or homogenates was linear over the range of 5-500 ng/mL and the limit of quantitation was 5 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision was RSD < 14% and <15%. The accuracy was relative error (RE) within +/- 14%. This method was applied to studying the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution after a single dose of trimebutine maleate was administrated to the rats. The T(max), AUC, C(max) and t(1/2) were 30 min, 7.8 x 10(2) (ng/mL) min, 39 ng/mL and 1.7 x 10(2) min. The drug distribution was found in a decreasing order of liver, kidney, spleen, lung and heart.     

Optimization of solid phase extraction clean up and validation of quantitative determination of corticosteroids in urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A solid phase extraction (SPE) method for extraction and clean up of 9 synthetic corticosteroids was optimized for quantification by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/negative electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Clean up was accomplished using a mixed mode polymeric strong anion exchange SPE column. The final method was validated according to EU regulations for determination of residues of veterinarian drugs in products of animal origin. Initial results showed a large difference in ion suppression between samples of porcine and bovine urine. The aim of optimisation was to design a procedure that minimised this difference while using a single SPE procedure and a fast HPLC method that enabled sufficient separation of the epimers beta- and dexamethasone. To include conjugated corticosteroids in the analysis, the sample was hydrolysed with Helix Pomatia beta-glucuronidase/aryl sulfatase. For the final method, which included fluocinolone acetonid, triamcinolone acetonid, beclomethasone, flumethasone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, 6alpha-methylprednisolone, prednisone and prednisolone, a quantification based on spiked samples carried through the entire analytical procedure was used. For quantification of triamcinolone acetonid an internal standard (triamcinolone acetonid-D6) was used. Relative average recoveries from 96 to 103% were found, except for beclomethasone (113%). Absolute average recoveries were 81-99%. Quantification limits (decision limits, CCalpha) were demonstrated to be not higher than 1 microg L(-1) (3 microg L(-1) for prednisone and prednisolone). The internal reproducibility, determined by triplicates from spiking at three different levels in six analytical series was 7-19% (at 2-4 microg L(-1)) except for prednisone and prednisolone (26-27% at 3-6 microg L(-1)).     

Sensitive assay for triazolam in plasma following low oral doses.

At low doses of triazolam currently recommended increased assay sensitivity is required for measurement of low plasma concentrations. A highly sensitive capillary gas chromatographic analytical method with a limit of detection of 0.02 ng/ml was developed and used to describe the pharmacokinetics of triazolam following the oral intake of 0.125, 0.250 and 0.375 mg. Six male subjects were studied with blood sampling at the following times: 0, 15, 30 and 45 min and 1, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 h. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters for the three doses, respectively, were as follows: half-life, 2.7 +/- 0.4, 3.2 +/- 0.5 and 3.2 +/- 0.6 h; apparent oral clearance, 302.3 +/- 59.0, 260.2 +/- 67.9 and 328.6 +/- 77.8 ml/min; apparent volume of distribution, 64.3 +/- 9.6, 62.0 +/- 12.6 and 73.3 +/- 7.7 l; time to maximum concentration, 0.7 +/- 0.2, 0.6 +/- 0.1 and 0.8 +/- 0.3 h; maximum concentration, 2.2 +/- 0.3, 4.3 +/- 0.6 and 5.0 +/- 0.5 ng/ml; and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) up to 8 h, 6.8 +/- 1.2, 16.8 +/- 2.9 and 19.6 +/- 3.5 ng/ml h; and AUC extrapolated to infinity, 8.5 +/- 1.7, 21.4 +/- 4.4 and 26.3 +/- 7.2 ng/ml h. There were no significant differences in the half-life, clearance, volume of distribution and time to maximum concentration among the three doses. The AUC was significantly different on the three occasions and was linearly correlated with dose: r = 0.64 (p less than 0.005).     

Evaluation of propolis polyphenols absorption in humans by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Propolis has various biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, immunostimulating and antiinflammatory, which are generally ascribed to the polyphenolic fraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption of the main polyphenols [caffeic acid (CA), pinobanksin-5methyl ether (P-5ME), pinobanksin (Pb), chrysin (C), pinocembrin (P), galangin (G), pinobanksin-3-acetate, pinobanksin esters and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE)] from a dewaxed and standardized extract of propolis (EPID). Fifteen healthy volunteers consumed 5 mL EPID in water, corresponding to 125 mg of flavonoids. Blood samples were collected before, each hour for 8 h and 24 h after EPID intake. After deconjugation by beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase the plasma samples were analyzed by a selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method using morin as internal standard (I.S.). A kinetic profile characterized by two t(max), respectively at 1 h and about 5 h post-ingestion, was observed in all the subjects. The two peaks may be due to enterohepatic cycling. Among the various polyphenols ingested, only P-5ME, Pb, C, P and G were detected in plasma and C(max)t(1h) were 65.7 +/- 13.3, 46.5 +/- 12.7, 79.5 +/- 18.6, 168.1 +/- 16.3 and 113.7 +/- 16.8 ng/mL, respectively. These levels decreased significantly after 8 h and were no longer detectable 24 h after EPID intake. The recovery of the extraction for CA, Pb, C, P, G and I.S. from spiked plasma was 95.2 +/- 3.1, 93.1 +/- 3.6, 91 +/- 2.5, 96.4 +/- 4.2, 93.4 +/- 2.4 and 85.5 +/- 2.4%, respectively. The results of this study evidence that flavonoids from EPID are absorbed, metabolized and Pb-5ME and G seem to have apparent absorption, measured as (AUC/dose), higher than C, P and Pb.     

Bromazepam determination in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry: a highly sensitive and specific tool for bioequivalence studies

A rapid, sensitive and specific method to quantify bromazepam in human plasma using diazepam as the internal standard (IS) is described. The analyte and the IS were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using diethyl ether-hexane (80 : 20, v/v). The extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Chromatography was performed isocratically on a Genesis C(18) analytical column (100 x 2.1 mm i.d., film thickness 4 microm). The method had a chromatographic run time of 5.0 min and a linear calibration curve over the range 5.0-150 ng ml(-1) (r(2) > 0.9952). The limit of quantification was 5 ng ml(-1). This HPLC/MS/MS procedure was used to assess the bioequivalence of two bromazepam 6 mg tablet formulations (bromazepam from Medley SA Indústria Farmacêutica as the test formulation and Lexotan from Produtos Roche Químico e Farmacêutico SA as the reference formulation). A single 6 mg dose of each formulation was administered to 24 healthy volunteers (12 males and 12 females). The study was conducted using an open, randomized, two-period crossover design with a 3 week washout interval. Since the 90% CI for C(max), AUC(last), AUC(0-240 h) (linear) and AUC((0- infinity )) ratios were all inside the 80-125% interval proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration, it was concluded that the bromazepam formulation from Medley is bioequivalent to the Lexotan formulation for both the rate and the extent of absorption.