Spectrophotometric Determination of Some Phenolic Antibiotics in Dosage Forms

 A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of some phenolic antibiotics namely: cefadroxil, amoxicillin and vancomycin. The method is based on the measurement of the orange yellow species produced when the drugs are coupled with diazotized benzocaine in triethylamine medium. The method is applicable over the range of 0.8–12 μg/ml for cefadroxil, 2–16 μg/ml for amoxicillin and 2–18 μg/ml for vancomycin. The formed compounds absorb at 455 nm for both cefadroxil and amoxicillin and at 442 nm for vancomycin. The proposed method has detection limits of 0.018 μg for cefadroxil, 0.0034 μg for amoxicillin and 0.0156 μg for vancomycin. The stoichiometric ratio for the studied compounds was found to be 1:1 and a proposal of the reaction pathway was made. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of the cited drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations. The results are in good agreement with those obtained by the official methods. Received February 7, 2000. Revision June 14, 2000.     

Monitoring of cephalosporin C during bioconversion

A simple method based on Schiff’s base formation betweenp-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and cephalosporin C is developed for estimation of cephalosporin C. The calibration curve was linear up to 500 μg of cephalosporin C. The application of the method in monitoring bioconversion of cephalosporin C to glutaryl-7-amino cephalosporanic acid is described.     

A validated HPLC method for assay of morphine hydrochloride and hydromorphone hydrochloride in pharmaceutical injections

Summary A sensitive and rapid routine HPLC method is proposed for quantitative estimation of morphine hydrochloride and hydromorphone hydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The drugs were chromatographed on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column; the mobile phase was acetonitrile-water, 35:65 (v/v), containing sodium dodecyl sulphate (0.5%, w/v), as ion pairing reagent, and acetic acid (0.4% v/v). Detection was at 230 nm. The optimized method was validated and linearity (r>0.999), precision, and accuracy were found to be acceptable within the concentration ranges 86–124 μg mL⁻¹ for morphine hydroloride and 60–180 μg mL⁻¹ for hydromorphone hydrochloride. The method is being used to investigate the stability of morphine hydrochloride and hydromorphone hydrochloride in solution used for intramuscular injection.     

Validation of a high-performance chromatographic method for determination of cefotaxime in biological samples

An analytical method for detecting and quantifying cefotaxime in plasma and several tissues is described. The method was developed and validated using plasma and tissues of rats. The samples were analyzed by reversed phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection (254 nm). Calibration graphs showed a linear correlation (r > 0.999) over the concentration ranges of 0.5–200 μg/mL and 1.25–25 μg/g for plasma and tissues, respectively. The recovery of cefotaxime from plasma standards prepared at the concentrations of 25 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL was 98.5 ± 3.5% and 101.8 ± 2.2%, respectively. The recovery of cefotaxime from tissue standards of liver, fat and muscle, prepared at the concentration of 10 μg/g was: 89.8 ± 1.2% (liver), 103.9 ± 6.5% (fat) and 97.8 ± 2.1% (muscle). The detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) limits for plasma samples were established at 0.11 μg/mL and 0.49 μg/mL, respectively. The values of these limits for tissues samples were approximately 2.5 times higher: 0.3 μg/g (LOD) and 1.25 μg/g (LOQ). For plasma samples, the deviation of the observed concentration from the nominal concentration was less than 5% and the coefficient of variation for within-day and between-day assays was less than 6% and 12%, respectively. The method was used in a pharmacokinetic study of cefotaxime in the rat and the mean values of the pharmacokinetic parameters are given. Received: 25 May 1998 / Revised: 27 July 1998 / Accepted: 1 August 1998     

Determination of selected elements by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in liquid drug samples after the preconcentration with thioacetamide

Preconcentration performance characteristics of precipitation of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Cd and with subsequent filtration through cellulose nitrate membrane were investigated for the X-ray spectrometry identification and determination of trace metal ions in drug samples. The method was optimised for several parameters, including pH and amount of thioacetamide. The investigated analyte ions were collected on cellulose nitrate membrane filter (Pragopor 4) as sulphides after the reaction with thioacetamide. Optimal reaction conditions were found out (pH 8.5 for Fe, Zn, Hg, and Cd and pH 11.5 for Mn, Co, Cu, and Pb; 1.2 mL of added thioacetamide). Thereafter, the content of these elements was determined in the samples of drugs—NaCl, glucose and dextrane. The rapidity of this method, its polycomponent character and low detection limits (for filters: Mn—1.09 μg, Fe—1.08 μg, Co—0.82 μg, Cu—0.42 μg, Zn—0.61 μg, Pb—0.45 μg, Hg—0.42 μg, and Cd—0.99 μg) have proved this method to be very promising in rapid screening used in quality control of drugs.     

Development and Validation of a Liquid Chromatographic Method for Determination of Efavirenz in Human Plasma

A simple, rapid, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for estimation of efavirenz in human plasma has been developed and validated. Chromatography was performed with C₁₈ analytical column and 50:50 acetonitrile–phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) as mobile phase. Compounds were monitored by UV detection at 247 nm. The retention time for efavirenz was 6.45 min and that for the internal standard, nelfinavir, was 2.042 min. Response was a linear over the concentration range of 0.1 μg–10 μg mL⁻¹ in human plasma. The method was simple, specific, precise and accurate and was useful for bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic studies of efavirenz.     

Preconcentration of Cd(II), Pb(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) by solid-phase extraction method using 1,10-phenanthroline

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) method for preconcentration and determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) aqueous samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry is described. The preconcentration of analytes is accomplished by retention of their chelates with 1.10-phenanthroline in aqueous solution on a solid phase containing carboxylic acid (COOH) bonded to silica gel in a column. The limits of detection values (defined as “3s” where “s” is standard deviation of the blank determination) are 3.6 μg/L for Cd(II), 17.5 μg/L for Pb(II), 3.1 μg/L for Co(II), 2.1 μg/L for Ni(II), and 4.4 μg/L for Cu(II) and corresponding limit of quantification (6s) values are 7.2, 35, 6.2, 4.2 and 8.8 μg/L, respectively. As a result, a simple method was elaborated for the group concentration and determination of the above mentioned metals in reference material and in samples of plant material. The article is published in the original.     

Substoichiometric determination of palladium by neutron activation analysis

A method is described for the substoichiometric determination of traces of palladium by neutron activation analysis involving the extraction of palladium with isonitrosoacetophenone. The sensitivity of the method is 0.005 μg of Pd. With 200 mg of silver alloy containing 0.0005% palladium, the average of three determinations of Pd is 0.98 μg, which varies between 1.07 μg and 0.91 μg at 95% confidence limit. The time required for radiochemical purification and counting of the sample does not exceed 12 minutes. Part of this work was presented at the International Conference on Modern Trends Activation Analysis, held in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, October 7–11, 1968.     

Bromide/bromate speciation by NTI-IDMS and ICP-MS coupled with ion exchange chromatography

 Two different mass spectrometric methods, negative thermal ionization isotope dilution mass spectrometry (NTI-IDMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), off-line and on-line coupled with anion exchange chromatography, have been developed for simultaneous bromide and bromate determinations in water samples. The detection limits of these methods are in the range of 0.03–0.09 μg/L using a 50 mL sample.The results are independent of the content of other anions, which could be demonstrated by the analyses of six mineral waters containing chloride and sulfate of up to 160 mg/L and 1500 mg/L, respectively. Bromide has been analyzed by the NTI-IDMS method in the range of 10–500 μg/L and bromate in the range of 1–50 μg/L with relative standard deviations of 0.3–1.2% and 0.4–6%. Quantification for the ICP-MS method was carried out by the standard addition technique, which resulted in relative standard deviations of 5.5% for bromide at the 500 μg/L level and of 13% for bromate at the level of about 3 μg/L. These results are compared with those described in the literature for ion chromatographic (IC) and other methods and those obtained in this work by IC using UV detection, which allows high concentrations of chloride in the bromate fraction. The detection limits of this IC method are 6 μg/L for bromide and 30 μg/L for bromate. NTI-IDMS and ICP-MS therefore fit the recommendations of the European Union (detection limit<2.5 μg/L; precision and accuracy better than 25% at the 10 μg/L level) for methods analyzing the carcinogenic bromate much better than IC and other methods applied up to now. As a definitive but time consuming method, NTI-IDMS is preferably applicable as a calibration technique, whereas ICP-MS, with relatively short analysis times, due to on-line coupling with chromatography, can be used as a sensitive and powerful routine method for trace bromide and bromate species in water samples. Received: 5 July 1996/Accepted: 7 August 1996     

Bromide/bromate speciation by NTI-IDMS and ICP-MS coupled with ion exchange chromatography

 Two different mass spectrometric methods, negative thermal ionization isotope dilution mass spectrometry (NTI-IDMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), off-line and on-line coupled with anion exchange chromatography, have been developed for simultaneous bromide and bromate determinations in water samples. The detection limits of these methods are in the range of 0.03–0.09 μg/L using a 50 mL sample.The results are independent of the content of other anions, which could be demonstrated by the analyses of six mineral waters containing chloride and sulfate of up to 160 mg/L and 1500 mg/L, respectively. Bromide has been analyzed by the NTI-IDMS method in the range of 10–500 μg/L and bromate in the range of 1–50 μg/L with relative standard deviations of 0.3–1.2% and 0.4–6%. Quantification for the ICP-MS method was carried out by the standard addition technique, which resulted in relative standard deviations of 5.5% for bromide at the 500 μg/L level and of 13% for bromate at the level of about 3 μg/L. These results are compared with those described in the literature for ion chromatographic (IC) and other methods and those obtained in this work by IC using UV detection, which allows high concentrations of chloride in the bromate fraction. The detection limits of this IC method are 6 μg/L for bromide and 30 μg/L for bromate. NTI-IDMS and ICP-MS therefore fit the recommendations of the European Union (detection limit<2.5 μg/L; precision and accuracy better than 25% at the 10 μg/L level) for methods analyzing the carcinogenic bromate much better than IC and other methods applied up to now. As a definitive but time consuming method, NTI-IDMS is preferably applicable as a calibration technique, whereas ICP-MS, with relatively short analysis times, due to on-line coupling with chromatography, can be used as a sensitive and powerful routine method for trace bromide and bromate species in water samples. Received: 5 July 1996/Accepted: 7 August 1996     

Determination of chlorophenols in urine of children and suggestion of reference values

During the course of a human biomonitoring project (Biebesheim in Hessen, Germany) we elaborated a simple but sensitive method for the determination of tri- (TCP), tetra- (TeCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in human urine. Urine samples, spiked with internal standards, were treated by acid hydrolysis. After a steam bath distillation the distillates were extracted using solid phase extraction. Derivatization of the chlorophenols was not carried out. GC/ECD system was used for detection. Detection limits of the chlorophenols were found in the range of 0.02 μg/L urine (detection limits of the ECD: 0.52 to 2.76 μg/L). By this method mono- and dichlorophenols cannot be detected. We investigated 24h-urine samples of 339 pupils (age 10 to 12 years). The children live either in the surroundings of a hazardous waste incinerator (SVA) in Biebesheim (n = 193), or controls (i.e. regions without waste incinerator) in the non polluted areas of Odenwald (n = 90) and Rheintal (n = 56). Between these three groups we did not find statistically significant differences in chlorophenol concentrations of the urine samples. The 95-percentiles of the analyzed samples are 0.74 μg/L (2,3,4-TCP), 1.24 μg/L (2,3,5-TCP), 0.70 μg/L (2,3,6–TCP), 1.10 μg/L (2,4,5–TCP), 1.74 μg/L (2,4,6–TCP), 2.84 μg/L (3,4,5–TCP), 4.78 μg/L (2,3,4,5-TeCP), 1.86 μg/L (2,3,4,6-TeCP), 2.90 μg/L (2,3,5,6-TeCP) and 4.39 μg/L (PCP). Received: 24 February 1999 / Revised: 3 May 1999 / Accepted: 6 May 1999     

Determination of chlorophenols in urine of children and suggestion of reference values

During the course of a human biomonitoring project (Biebesheim in Hessen, Germany) we elaborated a simple but sensitive method for the determination of tri- (TCP), tetra- (TeCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in human urine. Urine samples, spiked with internal standards, were treated by acid hydrolysis. After a steam bath distillation the distillates were extracted using solid phase extraction. Derivatization of the chlorophenols was not carried out. GC/ECD system was used for detection. Detection limits of the chlorophenols were found in the range of 0.02 μg/L urine (detection limits of the ECD: 0.52 to 2.76 μg/L). By this method mono- and dichlorophenols cannot be detected. We investigated 24h-urine samples of 339 pupils (age 10 to 12 years). The children live either in the surroundings of a hazardous waste incinerator (SVA) in Biebesheim (n = 193), or controls (i.e. regions without waste incinerator) in the non polluted areas of Odenwald (n = 90) and Rheintal (n = 56). Between these three groups we did not find statistically significant differences in chlorophenol concentrations of the urine samples. The 95-percentiles of the analyzed samples are 0.74 μg/L (2,3,4-TCP), 1.24 μg/L (2,3,5-TCP), 0.70 μg/L (2,3,6–TCP), 1.10 μg/L (2,4,5–TCP), 1.74 μg/L (2,4,6–TCP), 2.84 μg/L (3,4,5–TCP), 4.78 μg/L (2,3,4,5-TeCP), 1.86 μg/L (2,3,4,6-TeCP), 2.90 μg/L (2,3,5,6-TeCP) and 4.39 μg/L (PCP). Received: 24 February 1999 / Revised: 3 May 1999 / Accepted: 6 May 1999     

A Stability-Indicating LC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Telmisartan and Ramipril in Dosage Form

A simple, rapid, and precise method is developed for the quantitative simultaneous estimation of telmisartan and ramipril in combined pharmaceutical dosage form. A chromatographic separation of the two drugs was achieved with an ACE 5 C₁₈, 25-cm analytical column using buffer–acetonitrile (55:45 v/v). The buffer used in mobile phase contains 0.1 M sodium perchlorate monohydrate in double distilled water pH adjusted 3.0 with trifluoroacetic acid. The instrumental settings are flow rate of 1.5 mL min⁻¹, column temperature at 30 °C, and detector wavelength of 215 nm using a photodiode array detector. The resolution between ramipril and telmisartan were found to be more than 5. Theoretical plates for ramipril and telmisartan were 13,022 and 6,629. Tailing factor for ramipril and telmisartan was 0.94 and 0.98. Telmisartan, ramipril and their combination drug product were exposed to thermal, photolytic, hydrolytic and oxidative stress conditions, and the stressed samples were analysed by the proposed method. Peak homogeneity data of telmisartan and ramipril is obtained using photodiode array detector, in the stressed sample chromatograms, demonstrated the specificity of the method for their estimation in presence of degradants. The described method shows excellent linearity over a range of 20–400 μg mL⁻¹ for telmisartan and 2.5–50 μg mL⁻¹ for ramipril. The correlation coefficient for telmisartan and ramipril are 1. The relative standard deviation for six measurements in two sets of each drug in tablets was always less than 2%. The proposed method was found to be suitable and accurate for quantitative determination and the stability study of telmisartan and ramipril in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Sequential injection technique for determination of phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride and metoclopramide in pharmaceutical formulations

A sequential injection analysis (SIA) system is described for the determination of phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride and metoclopramide using spectrophotometer as detector. The method is based on the detection of an unstable red intermediate compound resulting from the reaction of phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride or metoclopramide with the diazotizating product of p-phenylenediamine with sodium nitrite in hydrochloric acid medium. The sampling frequency is 69 h⁻¹ and 75 h⁻¹ for phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride and metoclopramide, respectively. The linear range is 10–400 μg/mL for phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride with a detection limit of 0.081 μg/mL and 20–250 μg/mL for metoclopramide with a detection limit of 0.034 μg/mL. The RSD is 1.01 and 0.45% for phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride and metoclopramide, respectively. The proposed methods were used to determine phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride and metoclopramide in pharmaceuticals. The results are compared with those obtained by pharmacopoeia method. The article is published in the original.     

Quantitative immunofluorescent estimation of estrogen receptor β expression in human solid tumors using flow cytometry

The optimization of an immunofluorescent analysis for estrogen receptor β (ER-β) expression estimation was performed using flow cytometry (FC) and monoclonal antibodies (Abacam Co.) specific to the N-terminal domain of the human ER-β protein (clone 14C8). We have shown the possibility of cell fixation in a 4%-formaldehyde solution while varying the number of cells in the suspension, which allows one to examine tumor specimens obtained both during surgery and endoscopic examination of patients and tumor biopsies. Overnight incubation for (15–20 h), with primary antibodies and incubation with secondary antibodies for 1.5 h is recommended for use in clinical practice because of it optimizes the sensitivity of the method, reduces antibody expenses, and is convenient. Breast cancer cells of the MCF-7 line as a reference culture and a range of antibody concentration of 0.06, 1.2, and 2.5 μg/ml are recommended as controls for the antibody activity. The range of antibody concentration of 1.2, 2.5, and 5 μg/ml is recommended for use in the quantitative estimation of ER-β expression in human solid tumors, which covers both the linear dependence region of fluorescent specific staining on antibody concentrations and the plateau region of staining all the cells in the investigated cell suspension and, as a consequence, in the examined tumor.     

High-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying sulfonylurea herbicides in human urine: reconsidering the validation process

We have developed a method for measuring 17 sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides in human urine. Urine samples were extracted using solid phase extraction (SPE), preconcentrated, and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using turboionspray atmospheric pressure ionization. Carbon 13-labeled ethametsulfuron methyl was used as an internal standard. Chromatographic retention times were under 7 minutes. Total throughput was estimated as >100 samples per day. Because only one labeled internal standard was available for the analysis, we were forced to reconsider and restructure the validation process to include stringent stability tests and analyses of urine matrices of differing compositions. We describe our restructured validation process and the critical evaluation it provides for the method developed. The limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.05 μg/L to 0.10 μg/L with an average LOD of 0.06 μg/L. Average total relative standard deviations were 17%, 12% and 8% at 0.1 μg/L, 3.0 μg/L and 10 μg/L, respectively. Average extraction efficiencies of the SPE cartridges were 87% and 86% at 2.5 μg/L and 25 μg/L, respectively. Chemical degradation in acetonitrile and urine was monitored over 250 days. Estimated days for 10% and 50% degradation in urine and acetonitrile ranged from 0.7 days to >318 days. The influence of matrix effects on precision and accuracy was also explored. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at For additional information, contact Anderson Olsson at     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of iron(III) using diphenylamine-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt

A highly sensitive and very simple spectrophotometric flow-injection analysis (FIA) method for the determination of iron(III) at low concentration levels is presented. The method is based on the measurement of absorbance intensity of the red complex at 410 nm formed by iron(III) and diphenylamine-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt (DPA-4-SA). It is a simple, highly sensitive, fast, and low cost alternative method using the color developing reagent DPA-4-SA in acetate buffer at pH 5.50 and the flow-rate of 1 mL min⁻¹ with the sample throughput of 60 h⁻¹. The method provided a linear determination range between 5 μg L⁻¹ and 200 μg L⁻¹ with the detection limit (3S) of 1 μg L⁻¹ of iron(III) using the injection volume of 20 μL. FIA variables influencing the system performance were optimized. The amount of iron(III) and total iron in river and seawater samples was successfully determined. Repeatability of the measurements was satisfactory at the relative standard deviation of 3.5 % for 5 determinations of 10 μg L⁻¹ iron(III). The accuracy of the method was evaluated using the standard addition method and checked by the analysis of the certified material Std Zn/Al/Cu 43 XZ3F.     

Simultaneous Determination of Baicalin, Baicalein, Wogonin, Oxysophocarpine, Oxymatrine and Matrine in the Chinese Herbal Preparation of Sanwu-Huangqin-Tang by Ion-Paired HPLC

A sensitive and reliable ion-paired high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been established for the simultaneous quantification of six major active ingredients, namely baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, oxysophocarpine, oxymatrine and matrine in the Chinese herbal preparation, Sanwu-Huangqin-Tang. HPLC analyses were performed on a Phenomenex luna C₁₈ column with mobile phase of methanol–acetonitrile–aqueous phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 0.9 mL min⁻¹. The complete separation was achieved within 35 min for the six target constituents. A good linear regression relationship between peak-areas and concentrations was obtained over the range of 12.10–242.0 μg*mL⁻¹ for baicalin, 5.05–101.0 μg*mL⁻¹ for baicalein, 0.95–19.0 μg*mL⁻¹ for wogonin, 2.75–55.0 μg*mL⁻¹ for oxysophocarpin, 2.75–55.0 μg*mL⁻¹ for oxymatrine and 4.90–98.0 μg*mL⁻¹ for matrine, respectively. The repeatability was evaluated by intra- and inter-day assays with relative standard deviation (RSD) being less than 5.1%. The recoveries, measured at three concentration levels, varied from 93.8 to 102.1%. The assay was successfully applied for determination of six bioactive compounds in Sanwu-Huangqin-Tang. The interaction of chemical constituents was observed when the herbs were used in compatibility. The results indicated that the developed assay method was rapid, accurate and could be readily utilized as a quality control method for Sanwu-Huangqin-Tang.     

Validation of the HS-GC-FID method for the determination of ethanol residue in tablets

This paper describes the validation of a HS-GC-FID method (based on the Pharmacopeia’s method) for the determination of ethanol content in tablets. A general view of the procedure development/optimization process is presented. The main point of this study is the calculation of validation parameters. Selectivity of the method was determined. Linearity (r > 0.997) was observed in the range from 9.0 to 3,040 μg of ethanol per sample (because the mass of the tablets used was around 200 mg, this corresponds to 45–15,200 μg g⁻¹). The method showed good recoveries (average 99.0%), and a relative standard deviation for repeatability and intermediate precision of 4.5% and 5.5% respectively. The limit of detection was calculated to be 3.0 μg of ethanol per sample (15 μg g⁻¹). The uncertainty budget was done according to the "Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement" (GUM)[1], and a relative expanded uncertainty was estimated as 4.8%.     

Monolithic spin column extraction and GC-MS for the simultaneous assay of diquat,paraquat, and fenitrothion in human serum and urine

We present a method based on monolitic spin column extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry as an analytical method for screening diquat (DQ), paraquat (PQ), and fenitrothion in serum and urine. This method is useful for clinical and forensic toxicological analyses. Recovery of DQ, PQ, and fenitrothion from serum and urine, spiked at concentrations between 0.1, 2.5, 20, and 45 μg/ml, ranged from 51.3% to 106.1%. Relative standard deviation percentages were between 3.3% and 14.8%. Detection and quantitation limits for serum and urine were 0.025 and 0.05 μg/ml, respectively, for DQ, 0.1 and 0.1 μg/ml, respectively, for PQ, and 0.025 and 0.05 μg/ml, respectively, for fenitrothion. Therefore, these compounds can be detected and quantified in the case of acute poisoning.