Determination of methoxsalen in dosage forms by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A new, rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the determination of methoxsalen in dosage forms using HPLC has been developed. methoxsalen is extracted in chloroform, evaporated on a water bath, and the residue is redissolved in ethanol. A standard solution of khellin (internal standard) in ethanol is added, and injected. A plot of peak height ratio (methoxsalen/internal standard) vs. concentration of methoxsalen gave a straight line (r=0.998). The column used was a stainless steel, 3.8 mm×30 cm, and the mobile phase was methanol: water (6040) at a flow rate of 2 cm³/min. Retention times for methoxsalen and khellin were 3.45 and 9.6 min, respectively. This method was found superior to the spectrophotometric assay in that no interference was encountered from structurally similar compounds or from coloring agents used in some commercial methoxsalen products.     

Simultaneous determination of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide in combined dosage forms by first-derivative spectroscopy and high-performance thin-layer chromatography.

Losartan (LST) is the first orally active nonpeptide angiotensin-II receptor antagonist with an improved safety and tolerability profile. It is prescribed alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe hypertension. This paper describes the development of 2 methods that use different techniques, first-derivative spectroscopy and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), to determine LST and HCTZ in the presence of each other. LST and HCTZ in combined preparations were quantitated by using the first-derivative responses at 271.6 nm for LST and 335.0 nm for HCTZ in spectra of their solutions in water. The linearity ranges are 30-70 microg/mL for LST and 7.5-17.5 microg/mL for HCTZ with correlation coefficients of 0.9998 and 0.9997, respectively. In the HPTLC method, a mobile phase of chloroform-methanol-acetone-formic acid (7.5 + 1.5 + 0.5 + 0.03, v/v) and a prewashed Silica Gel G60 F254 TLC plate as the stationary phase were used to resolve LST and HCTZ in a mixture. Two well-separated and sharp peaks for LST and HCTZ were obtained at Rf values of 0.61+/-0.02 and 0.41+/-0.02, respectively. LST and HCTZ were quantitated at 254.0 nm. The linearity ranges obtained for the HPTLC method are 400-1200 and 100-300 ng/spot with corresponding correlation coefficients of 0.9944 and 0.9979, for LST and HCTZ, respectively. Both methods were validated, and the results were compared statistically. They were found to be accurate, specific, and reproducible. The methods were successfully applied to the estimation of LST and HCTZ in combined tablet formulations.     

Quantitative determination of chlorpromazine and thioridazine by high-performance thin layer chromatography

An assay for quantitation of chlorpromazine and thioridazine in patient plasma is developed. The procedure utilizes high-performance thin layer chromatography for separation and in situ absorption densitometry for quantitation. Depending upon the HPTLC plate size, 30 to 60 samples may be processed in less than 6 hr, with an intra-assay coefficient of variation of less than 4%. The procedure can be used to measure as little as 10 ng/ml of drug in plasma, well below expected concentrations in patients receiving these medications. Investigations of extraction procedures, sample application procedures, chromatographic conditions, sample derivatization, and in situ absorption densitometry are described.     

Simultaneous determination of chloroquine and selected calcium(II) channel blockers by high-performance liquid chromatography

Chloroquine (CQ), which is the primary drug for treatment and prophylaxis against malaria, has become ineffective because of the high prevalence of CQ-resistant P. falciparum parasites, but resistant parasites exposed to a Ca(II) channel blocker become as susceptible to CQ as sensitive parasites. A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method is described for simultaneously determining CQ, its metabolites desethyl-CQ and bisdesethyl-CQ, the Ca(II) channel blocker verapamil, and the tiapamil analogue N-(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)- N-methyl-2-(naphthyl)-m-dithiane-2-propylamine hydrochloride. The analytes were separated by gradient elution with acetonitrile and 1-heptane sulfonic acid; the detector wavelength was 232 nm. The mean recovery from spiked plasma was 100.1 ± 2.28 (SD). Within-day retention times were reproducible to within ± 0.03 SD of mean values and the lower limit of detection was about 2 ng of each analyte.     

Simultaneous determination of retinol and tocopherols by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method to determine retinol and all four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-) simultaneously was established using a reversed-phase column (YMC-PACK A-302 S-5 120A ODS). The HPLC conditions were mobile phase 65% isopropanol, sample solvent 99.5% methanol and temperature 30 degrees C. Retinol and tocopherols were measured in rat liver.     

General method for the analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reliable and simple method for the routine analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms by high-performance liquid chromatography using a C18 Bondapak reversed-phase column with a binary solvent system consisting of acetonitrile and 0.05 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate has been developed. Standardised extraction procedures for drugs in various dosage forms have been developed and successfully applied to a wide range of current pharmaceutical formulations.     

Determination of the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus in its dosage forms by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the determination of FK506, a new immunosuppressant, in bulk drug samples and dosage forms. Equilibration between FK506 (I) and its tautomeric compounds (II and III) was accomplished artificially in water-dehydrated alcohol (11) employed as an extraction solvent. After reaching equilibrium, separation of I, treated as the representetive of equilibrated FK506, from its related substances was achieved by reversed-phase HPLC on a C₁₈ column with water-isopropyl alcohol-tetrahydrofuran (522, v/v) as the mobile phase, and detection at 220 nm. Component I in dosage forms could be recovered satisfactorily and determined with good precision. The calibration graph was linear over the range 2–6 g for I.     

Simultaneous determination of naphthoquinone derivatives in Boraginaceous herbs by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of eight naphthoquinone derivatives namely shikonin, acetylshikonin, deoxyshikonin, β-acetoxyisovalerylshikonin, isobutylshikonin, β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin, 2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin and isovalerylshikonin in nine species of the Boraginaceae family. These species, coming from different areas of China, are all used as interchangeable sourcing plants for the Chinese Materia Medica known as “Zicao”, and are Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnston., A. guttata Bunge, Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc., Onosma paniculatum Bur. et Franch., O. exsertum Hemsl., O. confertum W.W. Smith, O. hookerii Clarke var. longiflorum Duthie, O. hookerii Clarke and O. waltonii Duthic. Quantification of the eight naphthoquinones in all the Zicao samples are reported and compared with each other. Furthermore, two positional isomers, 2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin and isovalerylshikonin, were successfully separated and quantified for the first time in the present study. The results showed that, besides the three officially used species (namely, A. euchroma, A. guttata and L. erythrorhizon) that were listed in Chinese pharmacopoeia as interchangeable sourcing plants for Zicao, other six species of Onosma used by native peoples in Tibet and Yunnan Province also contain various types and considerable amounts of naphthoquinones and that O. waltonii contains the most. Therefore, these species of Onosma could be developed as new sources of naphthoquinones. The entire analytical procedure is reproducible and suitable for the quantification of naphthoquinones in all related Boraginaceous plants for quality assessment purposes.     

Simultaneous determination of four antiepileptic drugs in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of oxcarbazepine, 10-hydroxycarbamazepine, epoxycarbamazepine, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin. After protein precipitation by acetonitrile, the supernatant was analysed on a C18 reversed-phase HPLC column. Antiepileptic drugs and oxazepam (internal standard) were detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 240 nm. Linearity was established for the whole concentration range for each compound. Quantitation limits of oxcarbazepine, 10-hydroxycarbamazepine, epoxycarbamazepine, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin were 0.58, 3.5, 2.35, 0.66, 1.02 and 3.13 microg/mL, respectively, and mean recoveries added to serum were 105.15, 84.76, 94, 45, 96.52, 98.62 and 95.08%, respectively. This method has been used for the simultaneous determination of steady-state serum concentration of antiepileptic drugs in patients treated by one or more anticonvulsive treatment.     

Simultaneous determination of nefiracetam and its metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed to simultaneously quantitate nefiracetam (NEF), a novel nootropic agent, and its three known oxidized metabolites (N-[(2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoyl)methyl]succinamic acid (5-COOH-NEF), 4-hydroxy-NEF and 5-hydroxy-NEF) in human serum and urine. The quantitative procedure was based on solid-phase extraction with Sep-Pak C18 and ultraviolet detection at 210 nm. The calibration curves of NEF and the metabolites were linear over a wide range of concentrations (0.5-21.5 nmol/ml for NEF and 0.4-9.5 nmol/ml for metabolites in serum and 4-86 nmol/ml for NEF and 8-190 nmol/ml for metabolites in urine). Intra- and inter-day assay coefficients of variation for the compounds were less than 10%. The limit of detection was 0.1 nmol/ml for NEF, 5-COOH-NEF and 4-hydroxy-NEF, and 0.2 nmol/ml for 5-hydroxy-NEF in both serum and urine. This method is applicable for the determination of NEF and its metabolites in human serum and urine with satisfactory accuracy and precision.     

Simultaneous determination of triterpene saponins in ginseng drugs by high-performance liquid chromatography

A HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of 11 triterpene saponins with four-type aglycones (protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol, ocotillol and oleanolic acid types) in Ginseng drugs was developed and validated. Using a gradient of acetonitrile and 10 mM K-phosphate buffer (pH 5.80) as the mobile phase and UV detection at 196 nm, more than 18 ginsenosides with different aglycones were separated satisfactorily within 60 min. The detection limits (signal/noise> or =3) were 0.1 microg for ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Rd, Re and Rg1, chikusetsusaponin III, and notoginsenoside R2, 0.2 microg for gisenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin IVa, 0.3 microg for chikusetsusaponin IV, and 3 microg for majonoside R2. The calibration curve of each saponin had a correlation coefficient close to 1. Intra- and interday precisions were less than 2.1% (n=5) and 3.3% (n=15), respectively. The recovery rates of extraction were in the range of 96.4-102.7% for all ginsenosides. By adopting this method, the determinations of 11 ginsenosides in three Ginseng drugs derived from Panax ginseng, Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus and Panax japonicus (Japan) were achieved.     

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of paracetamol, phenylephrine HCl, and chlorpheniramine maleate in pharmaceutical dosage forms

A rapid, precise, and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, phenylephrine HCI, and chlorpheniramine maleate in combined pharmaceutical dosage forms. The method involves the use of a microBondapak CN RP analytical column (125 A, 10 microm, 3.9 x 150 mm) at 22 degrees C as the stationary phase with the mixture of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (pH 6.22, 78:22) as the mobile phase. Derivatization of the drugs is not required. The method is applied to commercial pediatric cough-cold syrups, tablets, and capsules marketed in Turkey. The relative standard deviation for 10 replicate measurements of each drug in the medicaments is always less than 2%.     

Simultaneous determination of rifampicin and sulbactam in mouse plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of rifampicin and sulbactam in mouse plasma. Plasma samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile and separated by HPLC on a RP-18 (125 x 4 mm, 5 microm) column and gradient elution with potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution (pH 4.5; 50 mm) and acetonitrile at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL/min. Rifampicin and sulbactam were monitored at 230 nm and confirmed by means of their UV spectra using a diode-array detector. The method was linear at plasma levels from 1 to 100 microg/mL for rifampicin and from 5 to 200 microg/mL for sulbactam. The limits of quantification were 0.6 microg/mL for rifampicin and 4.2 microg/mL for sulbactam. The intra- and inter-day precisions of the method (RSD) were lower than 5% for both compounds. Average recoveries of rifampicin and sulbactam from mice plasma were 98.2 and 89.3%, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of the pharmacokinetic profile of both compounds in mice.