Gradient HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of miconazole nitrate and lidocaine hydrochloride in their combined oral gel dosage form

The pharmaceutical combination of miconazole nitrate (MZ) and lidocaine hydrochloride (LD) is used in the curative and prophylactic therapy of the oral and gastro-intestinal infections caused by Candida albicans. To the best of our knowledge, no attempts have yet been made to assay this combination by any analytical method. A simple and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) stability-indicating method was developed for the simultaneous determination of MZ and LD in their combined formulation. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved using a Zorbax SB-C8 column with gradient elution of the mobile phase composed of 0.05 M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. The gradient elution started with 25% (by volume) acetonitrile, ramped up linearly to 65% in 6 min, then kept constant until the end of the run. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The multiple wavelength detector was set at 215 nm and analytes were quantified by measuring their peak areas. The retention times for LD and MZ were approximately 4.1 and 8.4 min, respectively. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, detection and quantification limits. Calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 5-100 μg/ml for both drugs with correlation coefficients > 0.999. Both drugs were subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. The proposed method proved to be stability-indicating by the resolution of the two analytes from the related substance and potential impurity (2,6-dimethylaniline) and from the forced-degradation products. The validated HPLC method was applied to the analysis of MZ and LD in the combined oral gel preparation, in which the two analytes were successfully quantified and resolved from the pharmaceutical additives. The proposed method made use of DAD as a tool for peak identity and purity confirmation.     

Fast HPLC method using ion-pair and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography for determination of phenylephrine in pharmaceutical formulations

A rapid procedure based on a direct extraction and HPLC determination with fluorescence detection of phenylephrine in pharmaceutical sachets that include a large excess of paracetamol (65 + 1, w/w), ascorbic acid (5 + 1, w/w), and other excipients (aspartame and sucrose) was developed and validated. The final optimized chromatographic method for ion-pair chromatography used an XTerra RP18 column, 3 microm particle size, 50 x 3.0 mm id. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of acetonitrile and buffer (10 mM sodium octane-1-sulfonate, adjusted with H3PO4 to pH 2.2; 200 + 800, v/v), with a constant flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The separation was carried out at 30 degrees C, and the injection volume was 3 microL. Fluorescence detection was performed at excitation and emission wavelengths of 275 and 310 nm, respectively. The mobile phase parameters, such as the organic solvent fraction (acetonitrile) in mobile phase as an organic modifier, the concentration of sodium octane-1-sulfonate as a counter-ion, temperature, and pH of mobile phase, were studied. As an alternative to ion-pair chromatography, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) was investigated using a Luna HILIC column, 3 microm, 100 x 4.6 mm id. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and buffer (5 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, adjusted with H3PO4 to pH 2.5; 750 + 250, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The separation was carried out at 25 degrees C, and the injection volume was 5 microL. The proposed method has an advantage of a very simple sample pretreatment, and is much faster than the currently utilized HPLC methods using gradient elution and UV detection. Commercial samples of sachets were successfully analyzed by the proposed HPLC method.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination and pharmacokinetic study of wogonoside in rat serum after oral administration of traditional Chinese medicinal preparation Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of wogonoside in plasma of rats administrated orally with the traditional Chinese medicinal preparation Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction was developed. Sample preparation was carried out by protein precipitation with a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol (1:1, v/v). The extracted sample was separated on a Hypersil C(18) (150 x 5 mm i.d., 5 microm) analytical column by linear gradient elution using 0.05% (v/v) phosphoric acid (containing 5 mm sodium dihydrogen phosphate) and acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. The eluate was detected using a UV detector at 276 nm. The assay was linear over the range 0.109-7.0 microg/mL (R(2) = 0.9999, n = 5). Mean recovery was determined as 98.39%. Intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD) were < or =7.59%. The limit of quantitation was 0.109 microg/mL. After validation, the HPLC method developed was applied to investigate the preliminary pharmacokinetics of wogonoside in rat after oral administration of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction.     

Universal response model for a corona charged aerosol detector

The universality of the response of the Corona Charged Aerosol Detector (CoronaCAD) has been investigated under flow-injection and gradient HPLC elution conditions. A three-dimensional model was developed which relates the CoronaCAD response to analyte concentration and the mobile phase composition used. The model was developed using the response of four probe analytes which displayed non-volatile behavior in the CoronaCAD and were soluble over a broad range of mobile phase compositions. The analyte concentrations ranged from 1μg/mL to 1mg/mL, and injection volumes corresponded to on-column amounts of 25ng to 25μg. Mobile phases used in the model were composed of 0-80% acetonitrile, mixed with complementary proportions of aqueous formic acid (0.1%, pH 2.6). An analyte set of 23 compounds possessing a wide range of physicochemical properties was selected for the purpose of evaluating the model. The predicted response was compared to the actual analyte response displayed by the detector and the efficacy of the model under flow-injection and gradient HPLC elution conditions was determined. The average error of the four analytes used to develop the model was 9.2% (n=176), while the errors under flow-injection and gradient HPLC elution conditions for the evaluation set of analytes were found to be 12.5% and 12.8%, respectively. Some analytes were excluded from the evaluation set due to considerations of volatility (boiling point <400°C), charge and excessive retention on the column leading to elution outside the eluent range covered by the model. The two-part response model can be used to describe the relationship between response and analyte concentration and also to offer a correction for the non-linear detector response obtained with gradient HPLC for analytes which conform to the model, to provide insight into the factors affecting the CoronaCAD response for different analytes, and also as a means for accurately determining the concentration of unknown compounds when individual standards are not available for calibration.     

Simultaneous estimation of six anti-diabetic drugs--glibenclamide, gliclazide, glipizide, pioglitazone, repaglinide and rosiglitazone: development of a novel HPLC method for use in the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations and its application to human plasma assay

This paper describes a convenient method for the separation and simultaneous determination of six anti-diabetic drugs viz., glibenclamide (GLB), gliclazide (GLC), glipizide (GLZ), pioglitazone (PGL), repaglinide (RPG) and rosiglitazone (RGL) in pharmaceutical formulations. Also, the assay has been shown applied to support quantification of the six anti-diabetic drugs in human plasma. The analytes were either injected directly onto the column after suitable dilution (pharmaceutical formulation analysis) or a simple extraction procedure, using acetonitrile, from human plasma spiked with anti-diabetic drugs and internal standard (IS). Ternary gradient elution at a flow rate of 1 mL/min was employed on an Intertisl ODS 3V column (4.6 x 250 mm, 5 microm) at ambient temperature. The mobile phase consisted of 0.01 m formic acid (pH 3.0), acetonitrile, Milli Q water and methanol. Celecoxib was used as an IS. The six anti-diabetic drugs were monitored at a wavelength of 260 nm. The nominal retention times of RGL, PGL, GLZ, GLC, GLB, IS and RGL were 11.4, 13.3, 14.8, 17.6, 20.78, 22.1 and 25.4 min, respectively. The assay developed for formulation analysis was found to be accurate and precise. The calibration curves ranged from 0.1 to 100 microg/mL for all analytes with the exception of GLB, where the range was 0.3-100 microg/mL. The plasma assay was validated for parameters such as specificity, accuracy and extraction recovery. The proposed method is simple, selective and can be extended for routine analysis of anti-diabetics in pharmaceutical preparations and in biological matrices.     

HPLC‐DAD method for the simultaneous determination of zofenopril and hydrochlorothiazide in oral pharmaceutical formulations

An HPLC method with DAD detection was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of zofenopril and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets. The separation was carried out through a gradient elution using an Agilent LiChrospher C18 column (250×4.0 mm id, 5 μm) and a mobile phase consisting of (A) water–TFA (99.9:0.1 v/v) and (B) acetonitrile–TFA (99.1:0.1 v/v) delivered at a flow‐rate of 1.0 mL/min. 8‐Chlorotheophylline was used as internal standard. Calibration curves were found to be linear for the two drugs over the concentration ranges of 5.0–40 and 1.0–20 μg/mL for zofenopril and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. Linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness were determined in order to validate the proposed method, which was further applied to the analysis of commercial tablets. The proposed method is simple and rapid, and gives accurate and precise results.     

Indirect resolution of enantiomers of penicillamine by TLC and HPLC using Marfey's reagent and its variants

TLC and HPLC methods were developed for indirect chiral separation of penicillamine (3,3-dimethylcysteine) enantiomers after derivatization with Marfey's reagent (FDNP-Ala-NH(2)) and two of its structural variants, FDNP-Phe-NH(2) and FDNP-Val-NH(2). The binary mobile phase of phenol-water (3:1 v/v) and solvent combinations of acetonitrile and triethylamine phosphate buffer were found to give the best separation in normal and reversed-phase TLC, respectively. The diastereomers were also resolved on a reversed-phase C18 HPLC column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.01 m trifluoroacetic acid. The results due to these three reagents were compared. The method was successful for checking the enantiomeric impurity of l-penicillamine in d-penicillamine and to check the enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical formulations of d-penicillamine. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, limit of detection and limit of quantification.     

Simple automated generation of gradient elution conditions in sequential injection chromatography using monolithic column

The paper deals with the concept of simple automated creation of gradient profile of the mobile phase for gradient-elution sequential injection chromatography (GE-SIC). The feasibility and merits of this concept are demonstrated on the separation and simultaneous assay of indomethacin as active principle and of its two degradation products (5-methoxy-2-methylindoleacetic acid and 4-chloro-benzoic acid) in a topical pharmaceutical formulation.The GE-SIC separation was performed with a FIAlab^® 3000 SIC set-up (USA) equipped with an Onyx™ Monolithic C18 (25 mm × 4.6 mm, Phenomenex^®) column, a six-port selection valve, a 5-mL syringe pump and a fiber-optics UV CCD detector. Ketoprofen was used as an internal standard (IS). The gradient elution was achieved by automated reproducible mixing of acetonitrile and aqueous 0.2% phosphoric acid in the holding coil of the SIC system. Different profiles of the gradient elution were tested. The optimal gradient using two mobile phases 30:70 and 50:50 of acetonitrile/0.2% phosphoric acid (v/v) was achieved under the optimum flow rate 1.2 mL min⁻¹. The chromatographic resolution R between the peaks of all solutes (including the IS) was >2.00. The repeatability of retention times was characterized by the RSD values 0.18-0.30% (n = 6). Net separation time was 3.5 min and the mobile phase consumption was 4.5 mL for a single GE-SIC assay. The figures of merit of the novel GE-SIC method compared well with those of conventional HPLC.     

A sensitive and selective RP-HPLC method for simultaneous determination of picroside-I and picroside-II in rat plasma and its application in pharmacokinetics studies

A sensitive and selective HPLC method with UV detection for the simultaneous determination of picroside-I and picroside-II (active components of total glycoside of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell) was developed and validated in rat plasma. After simple deproteinization using acetonitrile, analysis was performed on an RP-C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min used in a gradient elution program. The UV detection wavelength was set at 262 and 277 nm. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 0.10-50 microg/mL for picroside-I and 0.25-200 microg/mL for picroside-II. The lower limits of quantification were 0.1 and 0.25 microg/mL for picroside-I and picroside-II, respectively. The recoveries from spiked control samples were up to 80% for both picroside-I and picroside-II. Accuracy and precision of the validated method were both within the acceptable limits of <15% at three quality control concentrations. The analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles. The method was successfully used to determine concentrations of picroside-I and picroside-II after intravenous administration of total glycoside of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell to rats.     

Validated HPLC determination of the two fixed dose combinations (chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and mebeverine hydrochloride; carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide) in their tablets

Simple, rapid, and selective RP-HPLC methods with UV detection were developed for simultaneous determination of chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and mebeverine hydrochloride (Mixture I) and carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide (Mixture II). The chromatographic separation in both mixtures was achieved by using an RP-C8 (octylsilyl) analytical column. For Mixture I, a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-0.05 M disodium hydrogen phosphate-triethylamine (50 + 50 + 0.2, v/v/v), pH 2.5, was used; the detector wavelength was 247 nm. For Mixture II, the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.05 M disodium hydrogen phosphate (50 + 50, v/v), pH 4.0, and the detector was set at 220 nm. Quantification of the analytes was based on measuring their peak areas. Both mixtures were resolved in less than 6 min. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedures were statistically validated with respect to linearity, range, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. The linear dynamic ranges were 2.5-150 and 2.5-500 microg/mL for chlordiazepoxide HCI and mebeverine HCI, respectively, and 0.25-200 and 0.25-150 microg/mL for carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. The validated HPLC methods were successfully applied to the analysis of their commercial tablet dosage forms, for which no interfering peaks were encountered from common pharmaceutical adjuvants.     

Identification of degradation impurities in aripiprazole oral solution using LC–MS and development of validated stability indicating method for assay and content of two preservatives by RP-HPLC

A simple and simultaneous reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the quantification of aripiprazole (ARI) and two preservatives, namely, methyl paraben and propyl paraben in ARI oral solution. The method was developed on ACE C18 (4.6?×?250?mm, 5?µm) column using gradient elution of 0.1% v/v trifluoroacetic acid in water and acetonitrile as mobile phase components. Flow rate of 1.0?mL/min and 30°C column temperature were used for the method at quantification wavelength of 254?nm. The developed method was validated in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization guideline for various parameters. Forced degradation study was conducted in acid, base, peroxide, heat, and light stress conditions. ARI was found to degrade in oxidation, acid hydrolysis, and heat while it was stable under the remaining conditions. Specificity of the method was verified using Photo Diode Array (PDA) detector by evaluating purity of peaks from degradation samples. Major degradation impurities formed during stress study were identified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method. The present method was useful for determining the content of all the three main analytes present in the oral solution without interference from degradation impurities. The method was robust under the deliberately modified conditions.     

Development and validation of a rapid reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of insulin from nanoparticulate systems

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the determination of insulin in nanoparticulate dosage forms. Its application for the development and characterization of insulin-loaded nanoparticulates composed of polyelectrolytes has also been carried out. A reversed-phase (RP) C18 column and gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile (ACN) and 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution at a flow rate of 1 mL/min was used. Protein identification was made by UV detection at 214 nm. The gradient changed from 30:70 (ACN:TFA, v/v) to 40:60 (v/v) in 5 min followed by isocratic elution at 40:60 (v/v) for a further five minutes. The method was linear in the range of 1-100 microg/mL (R2 = 0.9996), specific with a good inter-day and intra-day precision based on relative standard deviation values (less than 3.80%). The recovery was between 98.86 and 100.88% and the detection and quantitation limits were 0.24 and 0.72 microg/mL, respectively. The method was further tested for the determination of the association efficiency of insulin to nanoparticulate carriers composed of alginate and chitosan, as well as its loading capacity for this protein. Encapsulant release under simulated gastrointestinal fluids was evaluated. The method can be used for development and characterization of insulin-loaded nanoparticles made from cross-linked chitosan-alginate.     

Validation of a simple HPLC method for assay of haplamine and its metabolites in plasma suitable for pharmacokinetic application in rats

A simple HPLC method with ultraviolet detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of haplamine and its metabolites (trans/cis-3,4-dihydroxyhaplamine) in rat. A liquid-liquid extraction was used to extract the compounds from rat plasma. The analysis was performed on a C(18) Nucleosil Nautilus column. The mobile phase consisted of water (A) and a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile (85:15; v/v) (B) used in gradient mode (38-40% B for 10 min, 40-58% B for 49 min, 58-38% B for 1 min, and 38% for 5 min) pumped at 1 mL/min. The calibration curves showed good linearity with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 for the analytes in the investigated concentration range. The lower limit of detection was 0.007, 0.008 and 0.009 microg/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 0.014, 0.017 and 0.018 microg/mL for haplamine, and trans/cis-3,4-dihydroxyhaplamine, respectively. The method was applied to a preliminary pharmacokinetic study in rats. This method proved to meet fully the standards required of experimental pharmacokinetic studies and should be used in further preclinical investigation.     

On-line solid-phase extraction-HPLC-fluorescence detection for simultaneous determination of puerarin and daidzein in human serum

Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to the optimization of on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) parameters, and an automated system of on-line SPE coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of puerarin and daidzein in human serum. The human serum sample of 50 μL was injected into a conditioned C18 SPE cartridge, and the matrix was washed out with acetonitrile-KH₂PO₄-triethylamine buffer (0.01 M, pH 7.4) (3:97, v/v) for 3 min at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. Then the target analytes were eluted and transferred to the analytical column. A chromatographic gradient elution was programmed with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and KH₂PO₄-triethylamine buffer, and the analytes were determined with a fluorescence detector at excitation wavelength of 350 nm and emission wavelength of 472 nm, respectively. The proposed method presented good linear relations (0.85-170 μg/mL for puerarin and 0.2-40 μg/mL for daidzein), satisfactory precision (RSD < 8%), and accredited recovery (92.5-107.8%).     

制备型液相色谱法分离纯化3-甲基吡啶光氯化产物中的2-氯-5-三氯甲基吡啶

利用制备型高效液相色谱从3-甲基吡啶光氯化产物中分离纯化得到2-氯-5-三氯甲基吡啶,对制备色谱的洗脱方式、洗脱剂组成及浓度、进样量等参数进行了优化。使用的制备柱为Zorbax-C18柱,以乙腈-水为流动相,采用速度梯度洗脱方式进行洗脱,用二极管阵列检测器在240 nm波长下检测,进样体积为100 μL。该方法的制备回收率为82.7%,相对标准偏差为4.0%（n=5）,产品纯度为99.01%。     

Simultaneous determination of yohimbine,sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil in dietary supplements using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method was developed for determination of illegal adulterants (yohimbine, sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil) in dietary supplements by HPLC‐MS/MS. The separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% acetic acid aqueous solution with a gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The analytes were quantified and identified by two characteristic transitions using the multiple‐reaction monitoring mode. The recoveries of the analytes ranged from 77.5 to 109.3% with the RSD less than 8.1% (n=6). The method has been successfully applied to screen illegal adulterations of natural dietary supplements.     

HPLC analysis and pharmacokinetic study of quercitrin and isoquercitrin in rat plasma after administration of Hypericum japonicum thunb. extract

A simple HPLC method was developed for determination of quercitrin and isoquercitrin in rat plasma. Reversed-phase HPLC was employed for the quantitative analysis using kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside as an internal standard. Following extraction from the plasma samples with ethyl acetate-isopropanol (95:5, v/v), these two compounds were successfully separated on a Luna C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with isocratic elution of acetonitrile-0.5% aqueous acetic acid (17:83, v/v) as the mobile phase. The flow-rate was set at 1 mL/min and the eluent was detected at 350 nm for both quercitrin and isoquercitrin. The method was linear over the studied ranges of 50-6000 and 50-5000 ng/mL for quercitrin and isoquercitrin, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions of the analysis were better than 13.1 and 13.2%, respectively. The lower limits of quantitation for quercitrin and isoquercitrin in plasma were both of 50 ng/mL. The mean extraction recoveries were 73 and 61% for quercitrin and isoquercitrin, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of the two analytes in rat plasma after the oral administration of Hypericum japonicum thunb. ethanol extract.     

Simultaneous determination of leflunomide and its active metabolite,A77 1726, in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

The isoxazol derivative leflunomide [N-(4'-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-methylisoxazole-4-carboxamide] is an inhibitor of de novo pyrimidine synthesis used for the treatment of rheumatoid artrithis. In the present study, a liquid-liquid extraction-based reversed-phase HPLC method with UV detection was validated and applied for the analysis of leflunomide and its active metabolite, A77 1726, in human plasma. The analytes were separated using a mobile phase, consisting of acetonitrile, water and formic acid (40/59.8/0.2, v/v), at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, and UV detection at 261 nm. The retention times for A77 1726, leflunomide and warfarin (internal standard) were 8.2, 16.2 and 12.2 min, respectively. The validated quantification range of the method was 0.05-100 micro g/mL for leflunomide and 0.1-100 micro g/mL for A77 1726. The developed procedure was applied to assess steady-state plasma concentrations of A77 1726 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with 10 or 20 mg leflunomide per day.     

李晶1,2, 徐济仓1, 李雪梅1, 周建光2, 朱岩3, 缪明明1*超高效液相色谱法同时测定香精香料中14种禁限用物质

建立了超高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器(UPLC-PDA)同时测定香精香料中14种禁限用物质的方法。样品经10%(v/v)甲醇水溶液(含1%(v/v)氨水)提取后进行UPLC测定。采用的色谱柱为Waters BEH C18柱(50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm),流动相为10 mmol/L乙酸铵(含0.1%乙酸)和乙腈,梯度洗脱,流速为0.2 mL/min,柱温为35 ℃,在200～500 nm范围内进行扫描检测。结果表明,该方法在12 min内可实现14种禁限用物质的分离和检测,在0.10～50 mg/L范围内具有较好的线性关系,各待测物的线性相关系数均大于0.995,检出限(以信噪比为3计)为0.32～2.51 mg/kg。在5、10、20 mg/L添加水平下待测物的平均回收率为93.0%～121.0%,相对标准偏差为0.51%～4.50%。该方法操作简易,灵敏度高,线性相关性好,重复性佳,可以满足国内对于香精香料样品中禁限用物质的检测要求。     

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.