Simultaneous determination of spironolactone and its active metabolite canrenone in human plasma by HPLC-APCI-MS

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS) method for the simultaneous determination of spironolactone and its active metabolite canrenone in human plasma has been developed and validated. After the addition of estazolam as the internal standard (IS), plasma samples were extracted with methylene chloride : ethyl acetate mixture (20 : 80, v/v) and separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (57 : 43, v/v). Analytes were determined in a single quadrupole mass spectrometer using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. LC-APCI-MS was performed in the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at m/z 341.25 for spironolactone and canrenone, m/z 295.05 for estazolam. The method was proved to be sensitive and specific by testing six different plasma batches. Calibration curves of spironolactone and canrenone were linear over the range 2-300 ng/ml. The within- and between-batch precisions (relative standard deviation (RSD)%) were lower than 10% and the accuracy ranged from 85 to 115%. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was identifiable and reproducible at 2 ng/ml. The proposed method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of spironolactone and its major metabolite in healthy male Chinese volunteers.     

Preparation and Application of a Novel Silica-Supported Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Molecular Imprinting Polymer

Abstract

A novel estazolam-imprinted silica sorbent was prepared by the surface imprinting technique using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTEOS) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMOS) as functional monomers. The functional monomers are expected to form hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions with estazolam. The imprinted silica sorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), element analysis, and scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Compared to C₁₈ solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction, molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) SPE was the most feasible method to extract estazolam from human plasma, and the recovery of estazolam was up to 98.7±1.2%.     

胶束液相色谱法同时测定血浆中的苯巴比妥、艾司唑仑和氯硝西泮

采用胶束液相色谱法(MLC)分离测定血浆中苯巴比妥、艾司唑仑和氯硝西泮,运用三相平衡理论探讨了流动相中表面活性剂浓度(CM)、氢离子浓度(CH)、助表面活性剂浓度(Cφ)对溶质保留行为的影响,同时运用多元线性回归建立了保留因子的对数(log k)与溶质性质参数和流动相组成之间的相关模型。结果表明,溶质保留因子(k)随CM、Cφ和CH的增加而减小,与理论模型完全一致。而且log k与溶质的疏水性常数的对数(log P)和电离常数(Ka)以及CM、CH和Cφ之间呈现良好的多元线性关系。在确定的色谱条件下,血浆中的3种药物与其他组分之间有较好的分离效果。3种药物的血药浓度分别在2.5～50 mg/L、0.25～5.0 mg/L和0.05～5.0 mg/L间具有良好的线性关系。本方法简便、准确、重现性良好、灵敏度高。3种药物的最低检出限(S/N=3)分别为10.27、1.17、0.867 ng,平均加标回收率范围分别为99.80%～102.9%, 94.00%～98.20%和96.30%～98.70%。     

Quantitative determination of clenbuterol enantiomers in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using the macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase teicoplanin

We report a method for the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) chiral separation of racemic clenbuterol in human plasma. Human plasma was spiked with stock solutions of clenbuterol hydrochloride and practolol as the internal standard. Following a liquid-liquid extraction procedure with 10% (+/-)-2-butanol/isopropyl ether under alkaline conditions, the dried samples were reconstituted in methanol and chromatographed using a macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chirobiotic T(trade mark) (teicoplanin). The mobile phase composition was methanol:acetonitrile (70:30, v/v), containing 0.3% (v/v) acetic acid and 0.2% (v/v) triethylamine. The resulting chromatogram achieved baseline separation for the clenbuterol enantiomers. Calibration curves (peak area ratio vs plasma concentration, n = 10) were constructed for the (-)-R-and (+)-S-clenbuterol enantiomers with a plasma concentration range of 0. 25-10 microM. The correlation coefficient (r) range was 0.99988-0. 99999 (mean = 0.99999). The lowest concentration measured was 0.25 microM. Inter- and intra-assay variation was determined for the lowest, medium and highest plasma concentration (0.25, 2 and 10 microM) by calculating the analytical recoveries with a range of 96-104%. The percentage recoveries for the clenbuterol enantiomers were 88.4-102% over the concentration range used. Detailed methodology is presented.     

Simultaneous determination of naringenin and hesperetin in rats after oral administration of Da-Cheng-Qi decoction by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

To quantify naringenin and hesperetin in rat plasma after oral administration of Da-Cheng-Qi decoction, a famous purgative traditional Chinese medicine, a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated. The HPLC separation was carried out on a Zorbax SB-C(18) column using 0.1% formic acid-methanol as mobile phase and estazolam as internal standard after the sample of rat plasma had been cleaned up with one-step protein precipitation using methanol. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the positive ion mode and selected reaction monitoring method was developed to determine the active components. This method was validated in terms of recovery, linearity, accuracy and precision (intra- and inter-batch variation). The recoveries of naringenin and hesperetin were 72.8-76.6 and 75.7-77.2%, respectively. Linearity in rat plasma was observed over the range of 0.5-250 ng/mL (r2 > 0.99) for both naringenin and hesperetin. The accuracy and precision were well within the acceptable range and the relative standard deviation of the measured rat plasma samples was less than 15% (n = 5). The validated method was successfully applied for the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of naringenin and hesperetin administered to six rats.     

Evaluation of a novel silica-supported sol–gel sorbent prepared by a surface molecular imprinting technique for the selective separation of estazolam from human plasma

A molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) based on surface modification of silica gel was prepared via the sol–gel process with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and phenyltrimethoxysilane as functional monomers, and estazolam as the template. The imprinted silica sorbent was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, surface elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An MIP of agglomerated nano-particles with multi-pores was grafted onto the surface of the silica gel after hydrolytic condensation of the siloxane. The imprinted silica sorbent was used for solid phase extraction (SPE). Using water as loading solvent, the extraction efficiency for estazolam was higher compared to the use of an organic solvent. The imprinted silica sorbent was selective not only for the template, but also for the analogue. Compared to C₁₈-SPE and liquid–liquid extraction, the MIP-SPE was the most feasible technique for extraction of estazolam from human plasma; up to 98.7?±?1.2% recovery was achieved.     

Determination of the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor Ro 40-7592 in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with coulometric detection.

A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed to measure the catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) inhibitor 3,4-dihydroxy-4'-methyl-5-nitrobenzophenone (Ro 40-7592) in human plasma. The compound and the internal standard were extracted from plasma at pH 2 with n-butyl chloride-ethyl acetate (95:5, v/v). The extract was chromatographed on a reversed-phase column (Hypersil ODS, 5 microns) using a mixture of phosphate buffer (0.05 M, pH 2), methanol and tetrahydrofuran (45:55:5, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Long-retained components were removed from the system by means of a simple column-switching system. Quantification of the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor was performed by means of coulometric detection (0.1 V). The limit of quantification was about 1 ng/ml, using a 1-ml specimen of plasma. The recovery from human plasma was greater than 88%. The mean inter-assay precision was 5.3% in the range 2.5-1000 ng/ml. Linearity of the standard curve was obtained in the concentration range 2.5-500 ng/ml. The catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor was stable in human plasma when stored for six months at -20 degrees C and for 24 h at room temperature. The practicability of the new method was demonstrated by the analysis of more than 400 plasma samples from a tolerance study performed in human volunteers.     

A rapid HPLC method with fluorometric detection for determination of plasma itraconazole and hydroxy-itraconazole concentrations in cystic fibrosis children with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

The development and validation of a simple, rapid and selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is described for the quantitation of itraconazole and hydroxy-itraconazole in 100 microL of plasma from a paediatric population. The mobile phase of methanol (75% v/v) and water (25% v/v) was pumped at 1 mL/min through a C18 Symmetry (3.9 mm i.d. x 150 mm) cartridge. Using a protein-precipitation method, 100 microL internal standard (IS) solution (R051012, 555 microg/L in acetonitrile) were added to 100 microL of plasma followed by 10 microL zinc sulphate solution (20% w/v). Itraconazole, hydroxy-itraconazole and IS eluted at 4.7, 8.3 and 12.5 min, respectively and were detected fluorometrically at 250 nm (excitation) and 380 nm (emission). Recoveries were 87.1-96.7%. Calibrations in drug-free plasma were linear (r2 > 0.99) from 50 to 2000 microg/L, using 1/c2 (c = concentration) weighting. Intraday and interday imprecision (CV%) was 4.8-17.3 and 6.3-16.6% for itraconazole, and 4.6-17.9 and 7.02-18.4% for hydroxy-itraconazole. Inaccuracy was -7.1 to -14.7% for itraconazole and -0.1 to -9.7% for hydroxy-itraconazole. The clinical application of this method was demonstrated by measurement of itraconazole and hydroxy-itraconazole in plasma samples drawn from paediatric cystic fibrosis patients, who were prescribed itraconazole for treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.     

超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱快速检测动物饲料中10种违禁精神药物

建立了测定动物饲料中三唑仑、艾司唑仑、硝西泮、地西泮、异丙嗪、氯氮平、唑吡坦、甲硫哒嗪、氯丙嗪和咪达唑仑10种违禁精神药物的超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)方法。样品经混合溶剂甲醇-0.1 mol/L HCl(9:1, v/v)振荡提取,再用MCX固相萃取柱净化处理后,采用UPLC-Q-TOF-MS分析检测。10种化合物在5～100 μg/L范围内均呈良好的线性关系,线性相关系数均大于0.99。本方法的硝西泮、唑吡坦和甲硫哒嗪的定量限(LOQ,以信噪比为10计)为8 μg/kg,三唑仑、艾司唑仑、地西泮、异丙嗪、氯丙嗪和咪达唑仑为10 μg/kg,氯氮平为20 μg/kg。3个添加水平(LOQ、2LOQ、4LOQ)的回收率试验结果表明,10种化合物的回收率在60.6%～108.5%范围内,相对标准偏差均小于10%。本方法可用于动物饲料中违禁精神药物的准确测定。     

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric analysis of anastrozole in human plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A hydrophilic interaction chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for determination of anastrozole in human plasma. Anastrozole and irbesartan (internal standard) were extracted from human plasma with a mixture of dichloromethane and methyl tert-butyl ether (30:70, v/v). Analysis of the analytes was performed on a Luna HILIC column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-10 m m ammonium formate (95:5, v/v) and detected by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The standard curve was linear (r(2) = 0.9992) over the concentration range of 0.10-50.0 ng/mL using 200 μL of plasma sample. The coefficient of variation and relative error for intra- and inter-assay at four QC levels were 1.2-10.0% and -7.2-3.2%, respectively. The present method was applied successfully to the pharmacokinetic study of anastrozole after oral administration of 1 mg anastrozole tablet to healthy male volunteers.     

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of the niguldipine analogue DHP-014

A simple and reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the determination of DHP-014, a niguldipine analogue with potent P-glycoprotein inhibitory and negligible calcium channel blocking properties, in rat plasma. DHP-014 and niguldipine hydrochloride (the internal standard) were extracted from rat plasma by liquid extraction using hexane. DHP-014 was then separated by HPLC on a C18 column and quantified by ultraviolet detection at 238 nm. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-aqueous 5 mM phosphate buffer (65:35, v/v) containing 0.4% (v/v) triethylamine adjusted to pH 7.0. The mean extraction efficiency of DHP-014 was 109.0 +/- 12.9, 97.7 +/- 8.0 and 102.9 +/- 7.5% for DHP-014 concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 nM, respectively (n = 5). The method was linear over the concentration range 2.5-200 nM with a regression coefficient of 0.998. The limit of detection of DHP-014 in rat plasma was 1.0 nM. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation for DHP-014 in rat plasma were 4.7-7.9 and 6.9-9.9%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracy was 98.2-99.5 and 97.9-103%, respectively. The bioanalytical technique was used to determine DHP-014 in plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study of DHP-014 administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats.     

HPLC determination of diltiazem in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetics in humans

A simple and sensitive reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) has been developed and validated for the routine analysis of diltiazem in human plasma and the study of the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the human body. Diltiazem and diazepa (internal standard) were extracted with a mixed organic solution of hexane, chloroform and isopropanol (60:40:5, v/v/v), and then HPLC separation of the drugs was performed on an Spherisorb C(18) column and detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 239 nm. The use of methanol-water solution (containing 2.8 mm triethylamine, 80:20, v/v) as the mobile phase at a fl ow-rate of 1.2 mL/min enables the baseline separation of the drugs free from interferences with isocratic elution. The method was linear in the clinical range 0-300 ng/mL and the lower limit of detection of diltiazem in plasma was 3 ng/mL. The range of percentage of relative standard deviation (%RSD) was from 3.5 to 6.8% for within-day analyses and from 6.2 to 8.4% for between-day analyses, respectively. The extraction recoveries of diltiazem from spiked human plasma (n = 5) at three concentrations were 91.4-104.0%. The method has been used to determine diltiazem in human plasma samples from eight volunteers who had taken diltiazem hydrochloride slow release tables and the data obtained was fitted with a program on computer to study the pharmacokinetics. The results showed that the peak level in plasma approximately averaged 118.5 +/- 14.3 ng/mL at 3.1 +/- 0.4 h, and the areas under the drug concentration curves (AUC) was 793.1 +/- 83.1 ng.h/mL.     

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。     

Validation and application of a high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay for sumatriptan in human plasma

A sensitive and convenient high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS) assay is described for the (5-HT(lB/lD)) receptor agonist sumatriptan in human plasma. Sumatriptan was recovered from plasma (81.8 +/- 6.8%) by liquid-liquid extraction. The mobile phase flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and consisted of methanol:water:formic acid (90:10:0.1, v/v/v). The analytical column (4.6 x 100 mm) was packed with Partisil C(8) (5 micro m). The standard curve was linear from 0.7 to 70.4 ng/mL (r(2) > 0.99). The lower limit of quantitation was 0.7 ng/mL. The assay was specific, accurate (percentage deviation from nominal concentrations were <15%), precise and reproducible (within- and between-day coefficients of variation <10.3%). Sumatriptan in plasma was stable over three freeze/thaw cycles and at room temperature for one day. The utility of the assay was demonstrated by following sumatriptan plasma concentrations in two healthy subjects for 8-12 h following a single 20 mg intranasal dose.     

Enantioselective analysis of ibuprofen in human plasma by anionic cyclodextrin-modified electrokinetic chromatography

This paper reports the development of a rapid method for the enantioselective analysis of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen in human plasma by capillary electrophoresis employing the anionic cyclodextrin-modified electrokinetic chromatography mode. Sample cleanup was carried out by acidification with HCl followed by liquid-liquid extraction with hexane:isopropanol (99:1 v/v). The complete enantioselective analysis was performed within 10 min, using 100 mmol L(-1) phosphoric acid/triethanolamine buffer, pH 2.6, containing 2.0% w/v sulfated beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector; fenoprofen, another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was used as internal standard. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.25-125.0 microg mL(-1) for each enantiomer of ibuprofen. The mean recoveries for ibuprofen enantiomers were up to 85%. The enantiomers studied could be quantified at three different concentrations (0.5, 5.0 and 50.0 microg mL(-1)) with a coefficient of variation and relative error not higher than 15%. The quantitation limit was 0.2 microg mL(-1) for (+)-(S)- and (-)-(R)-ibuprofen using 1 mL of human plasma. The plasma endogenous compounds and other drugs did not interfere with the present assay. The analysis of real plasma samples obtained from a healthy volunteer after administration of 600 mg of racemic ibuprofen showed a maximum plasma level of 29.6 and 39.9 microg mL(-1) of (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-ibuprofen, respectively, and the area under plasma concentration-time curve AUC(0-infinity) (+)-(S)/AUC(0-infinity) (-)-(R) ratio was 1.87.     

Determination of a novel steroidal androgen receptor antagonist (Win 49596) in human plasma using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A rapid, sensitive and selective method was developed for the determination of a novel steroidal androgen receptor antagonist (Win 49596, I) in human plasma. The procedure involved extraction from plasma using a solid-phase phenyl support and elution directly onto a reversed-phase C8 column using a mobile phase consisting of 0.2 mol/l sodium acetate buffer at pH 7-acetonitrile (45:55, v/v). Drug was monitored by ultraviolet detection at a wavelength of 238 nm. Linear responses were observed for standards over the range 0.01-5.0 micrograms/ml. The minimum quantifiable level was 0.02 microgram/ml, using a 0.5-ml plasma sample. The precision was 5.5% and the accuracy ranged from -9.4% to 0.23%. The analytical method has been used to quantify I in plasma from dogs and rats and is projected for use with human plasma from clinical trials.     

稳定同位素稀释离子色谱-三重四极杆质谱法测定血浆和尿液中的氟乙酸

建立了离子色谱-三重四极杆质谱测定血浆和尿液样品中氟乙酸（MFA）的方法。血浆样品经高氯酸超声提取,尿液样品经高氯酸酸化,血浆和尿液提取液在pH 0.5~1.0条件下用叔丁基甲醚（MTBE）萃取,萃取液经氮吹浓缩后溶于0.1%（v/v）氨水溶液。以Ionpac AS 19型阴离子色谱柱为分析柱,在线自动产生的氢氧化钾作为淋洗液进行梯度分离,柱流出液经阴离子抑制器抑制后进入质谱系统。采用电喷雾电离源,在负离子、多离子监测（MRM）模式下检测,¹³C₂-氟乙酸稳定同位素内标法定量。血浆和尿液样品中氟乙酸的平均加标回收率为96.2%~120%,相对标准偏差为1.1%~13.1%（n=6）,方法的检出限（S/N=3）分别为0.03 μg/L和0.1 μg/L。该法简单、灵敏、准确,可用于生物样品中氟乙酸的检测。     

Enantioselective determination of arotinolol in human plasma by HPLC using teicoplanin chiral stationary phase

A sensitive enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated to determine S-(+)- and R-(-)-arotinolol in human plasma. Baseline resolution was achieved by using teicoplanin macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chirobiotic T with a polar organic mobile phase consisting of methanol:glacial acetic acid:triethylamine, 100:0.1:0.1, (v/v/v) at a fl ow rate of 0.8 mL/min and UV detection set at 317 nm. Human plasma was spiked with stock solution of arotinolol enantiomers and labetalol as the internal standard. The assay involved the use of liquid-liquid extraction procedure with ethyl ether under alkaline condition for human plasma sample prior to HPLC analysis. Recoveries for S-(+)- and R-(-)-arotinolol enantiomers were in the range 93-103% at 200-1400 ng/mL level. Intra-day and inter-day precision calculated as %RSD was in the ranges 1.3-3.4 and 1.9-4.5% for both enantiomers, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day accuracies calculated as percentage error were in the ranges 1.2-3.5 and 1.5-6.2% for both enantiomers, respectively. Linear calibration curves in the concentration range 100-1500 ng/mL for each enantiomer showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9998. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) for each enantiomer in human plasma were 100 and 50 ng/mL (S/N = 3), respectively.     

Determination of ivermectin B(1a) in animal plasma by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A novel, sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of ivermectin B(1a) in animal plasma using liquid chromatography combined with positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) is presented. Abamectin was used as the internal standard. Extraction of the samples was performed with a deproteinization step using acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Nucleosil ODS 5 microm column, using gradient elution with 0.2% (v/v) acetic acid in water and 0.2% (v/v) acetic acid in acetonitrile. The method was validated according to the requirements defined by the European Community. Calibration curves using plasma fortified between 1 and 100 ng ml(-1) showed a good linear correlation (r > or = 0.9989, goodness-of-fit coefficient < or =8.1%). The trueness at 2 and 25 ng ml(-1) (n = 6) was +4.2 and -17.1%, respectively. The trueness and between-run precision for the analysis of quality control samples at 25 ng ml(-1) was -4.0 and 11.0%, respectively (n = 16). The limit of quantification of the method was 1.0 ng ml(-1), for which the trueness and precision also fell within acceptable limits. Using a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 : 1, the limit of detection was calculated to be 0.2 ng ml(-1). The specificity was demonstrated with respect to ivermectin B(1b).The method was successfully used for the quantitative determination of ivermectin B(1a) in plasma samples from treated bovines, demonstrating the usefulness of the developed method for application in the field of pharmacokinetics.     

Liquid chromatographic/electrospray mass spectrometric determination (LC/ESI-MS) of chelerythrine and dihydrochelerythrine in near-critical CO2 extracts from real and spiked plasma samples

Two polar benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, chelerythrine (CHE) and dihydrochelerythrine (DHCHE), were extracted at 35 °C and 10 MPa (15 MPa for real samples) from real and spiked plasma samples with acceptable recoveries (95.1% and 81.0%, respectively) using near-critical CO₂ modified with aqueous (1:1, v/v) methanol. The alkaloids were quantified by a liquid chromatographic/electrospray mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS) method on a Zorbax SB-CN column (75 mm × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm particle size) using methanol (organic phase) and 50 mM ammonium formiate (aqueous phase) as a mobile phase. A linear gradient 0-1 min, isocratic at 60% organic phase (v/v); from 1.0 to 7.0 min, 60-71% organic phase (v/v); from 7.0 to 18.0 min, 71-60% organic phase (v/v) was applied. The limit of detection was 1.22 ng (3.50 pmol) for CHE and 0.95 ng (2.72 pmol) for DHCHE per 1 ml of the sample. The linearity of the calibration curves was satisfactory as indicated by coefficients of determination 0.9979 and 0.9995 for CHE and DHCHE, respectively. Repeatability and intermediate precision (average R.S.D.s) were 1.0-1.5%, accuracy was in the range 99.7-100.3%. Average recovery was 100.1% for both, standard solutions and spiked plasma extracts. Three samples of real rat plasma were extracted and analysed to test the method.