Simultaneous and enantiospecific quantification of primaquine and carboxyprimaquine in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Background The enantiomers of the 8-aminoquinoline anti-malarial primaquine have different pharmacological properties. Development of an analytical method for simultaneous quantification of the enantiomers of primaquine and its metabolite, carboxyprimaquine, will support clinical pharmacometric assessments. Methods A simple and sensitive method consisting of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous and enantiospecific determination of primaquine and its metabolite, carboxyprimaquine, in human plasma. Stable isotopes were used as internal standards to compensate for potential interference and matrix effects. Plasma samples (100 µL) were precipitated with 1% formic acid in acetonitrile followed by phospholipid removal solid phase extraction. Primaquine and carboxyprimaquine enantiomers were separated on a Chiralcel OD-3R (150 mm × 4.6 mm; I.D. 3 μm) column using a LC gradient mode. For separation of racemic primaquine and carboxyprimaquine, the LC method was modified and validated using a reverse phase column (Hypersil Gold 100 mm × 4.6 mm; I.D. 3 µm) and a mobile phase composed of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer, pH 3.5 and acetonitrile in the isocratic mode. Method validation was performed according to regulatory guidelines. Results The calibration range was set to 0.571–260 ng/mL and 2.44–2,500 ng/mL for primaquine and carboxyprimaquine enantiomers, respectively, resulting in a correlation coefficient (r2) ≥ 0.0998 for all calibration curves. The intra- and inter-day assay precisions were < 10% and the accuracy was between 94.7 to 103% for all enantiomers of primaquine and carboxyprimaquine. The enantiospecific method was also modified and validated to quantify racemic primaquine and carboxyprimaquine, reducing the total run time from 30 to 8 min. The inter-, intra-day assay precision of the racemic quantification method was < 15%. The absolute recoveries of primaquine and carboxyprimaquine were between 70 and 80%. Stability was demonstrated for up to 2 years in − 80 °C. Both the enantiomeric and racemic LC–MS/MS methods were successfully implemented in pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers. Conclusions Simple, sensitive and accurate LC–MS/MS methods for the quantification of enantiomeric and racemic primaquine and carboxyprimaquine in human plasma were validated successfully and implemented in clinical routine drug analysis

Screening of phytochemicals and in vitro evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of leaves, pods and bark extracts of Acacia nilotica (L.) Del

The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical content, antibacterial activity and antioxidant activity of leaves, bark and pods of Acacia nilotica. The different extracts of acacia were evaluated for total phenolic, flavonoid and protein contents, antibacterial (agar well diffusion and broth dilution methods) and antioxidant (DPPH; 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay) activities. The characterization and identification of phenolic compounds was carried out by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry analysis. The MS2 fragmentation pattern showed the presence of galloylated catechins and gallocatechin derivatives in tested extracts. The results indicated that all parts of the plant, but especially leaves, were effective in inhibiting the growth of antibiotic resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species obtained from clinical and food isolates. The leaves were found to be rich in total phenolic content, proteins and high antioxidant activity as compared to pods and bark. The presence of functional groups of active compounds was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of plant extracts. It was concluded that all tested parts of A. nilotica had antibacterial and antioxidant activities. These properties might be due to the presence of high total phenolic content, proteins and/or flavonoids. Hence the extracts of leaves, bark and pods of A. nilotica represent a potential source of antibacterial and antioxidant compounds that may be used in food, agriculture and/or pharmaceutical products

A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for determination of artemether and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin in human plasma.

BACKGROUND: Artemether-lumefantrine is the most widely recommended artemisinin-based combination treatment for falciparum malaria. Quantification of artemether and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin in biological matrices has traditionally been difficult, with sensitivity being an issue. RESULTS: A high-throughput bioanalytical method for the analysis of artemether and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin in human plasma using solid-phase extraction in the 96-well plate format and liquid chromatography coupled to positive ion mode tandem mass spectroscopy has been developed and validated according to US FDA guidelines. The method uses 50 µl plasma and covers the calibration range 1.43-500 ng/ml with a limit of detection at 0.36 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The developed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay is more sensitive than all previous methods despite using a lower plasma volume (50 µl) and is highly suitable for clinical studies where plasma volumes are limited, such as pediatric trials

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for determination of oseltamivir and its metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate in plasma, saliva and urine.

A bioanalytical method for the analysis of oseltamivir (OP) and its metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) in human plasma, saliva and urine using off-line solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to positive tandem mass spectroscopy has been developed and validated. OP and OC were analysed on a ZIC-HILIC column (50 mm x 2.1 mm) using a mobile phase gradient containing acetonitrile-ammonium acetate buffer (pH 3.5; 10mM) at a flow rate of 500 microL/min. The method was validated according to published FDA guidelines and showed excellent performance. The lower limit of quantification for OP was determined to be 1, 1 and 5 ng/mL for plasma, saliva and urine, respectively and for OC was 10, 10 and 30 ng/mL for plasma, saliva and urine, respectively. The upper limit of quantification for OP was determined to be 600, 300 and 1500 ng/mL for plasma, saliva and urine, respectively and for OC was 10,000, 10,000 and 30,000 ng/mL for plasma, saliva and urine, respectively. The within-day and between-day precisions expressed as R.S.D., were lower than 5% at all tested concentrations for all matrices and below 12% at the lower limit of quantification. Validation of over-curve samples ensured that it would be possible with dilution if samples went outside the calibration range. Matrix effects were thoroughly evaluated both graphically and quantitatively. No matrix effects were detected for OP or OC in plasma or saliva. Residues from the urine matrix (most likely salts) caused some ion suppression for both OP and its deuterated internal standard but had no effect on OC or its deuterated internal standard. The suppression did not affect the quantification of OP

Quantification of dihydroartemisinin, artesunate and artemisinin in human blood: overcoming the technical challenge of protecting the peroxide bridge.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of artemisinin (ARN) and its derivatives in whole blood has hitherto been thought impossible. RESULTS: A LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of artesunate (ARS), its metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and artemisinin in human whole blood has been developed and successfully validated. The method includes stabilization of the blood matrix at the time of collection and at the time of analysis. Addition of potassium dichromate to the blood samples deactivated the Fe(2+) core in hemoglobin, while deferoxamine chelated Fe(3+) and prevented back conversion into Fe(2+). A pilot study showed that the blood:plasma ratio for ARS and DHA is approximately 0.75, indicating a significantly lower uptake in red blood cells than had previously been estimated using radiolabeled drug methodology. CONCLUSIONS: The developed LC-MS/MS assay is the first method available for quantification of ARN and its derivatives in blood and opens up new possibilities of studying these drugs inside infected red blood cells

Population pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate in obese and Non-obese volunteers.

The aims of this study were to compare the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate in obese and non-obese individuals and to determine the effect of obesity on the pharmacokinetic properties of oseltamivir and the active antiviral metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate.The population pharmacokinetic properties of oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate were evaluated in 12 obese (body mass index; BMI ≥30 kg/m(2) ) and 12 non-obese (BMI &lt;30 kg/m(2) ) Thai adult volunteers receiving a standard dose of 75 mg and a double dose of 150 mg in a randomised sequence. Concentration-time data were collected and analysed with nonlinear mixed-effects modelling.The pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir and its active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate, were described simultaneously by first-order absorption, with a one-compartment disposition model for oseltamivir followed by a metabolism compartment and one-compartment disposition of oseltamivir carboxylate. Creatinine clearance was a significant predictor of oseltamivir carboxylate clearance (3.84% increase for each 10 mL/min increase of creatinine clearance, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] of 0.178 to 8.02%). Obese individuals had an approximately 25% (95% CI of 24% to 28%) higher oseltamivir clearance, 20% higher oseltamivir volume of distribution (95% CI of 19% to 23%) and 10% higher oseltamivir carboxylate clearance (95% CI of 9% to 11%) compared to non-obese individuals. However, these altered pharmacokinetic properties were small and did not change the overall exposure to oseltamivir carboxylate.This confirmed that dose adjustment of oseltamivir in obese individuals was not necessary on a pharmacokinetic basis

Development and validation of a high-throughput zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of the anti-influenza drug peramivir in plasma.

An assay for the analysis for the quantification of the anti-influenza drug peramivir in human plasma using high-throughput zwitterionic (ZIC) hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) solid-phase extraction (SPE) in a 96-wellplate format and liquid chromatography coupled to positive tandem mass spectroscopy has been developed and validated. The ZIC-HILIC SPE efficiently removed sources of interference present in the supernatant after protein precipitation of plasma proteins. The main advantage of the ZIC-HILIC SPE sample preparation step was that it allowed load and elution conditions to be optimised to extract only peramivir and minimize co-extraction of lipophilic phospholipids. The method was validated according to published US Food and Drugs Administration guidelines and showed excellent performance. The assay was validated over two calibration ranges (0.952-500 and 50-50,000 ng/mL) to support analysis of peramivir after intra-venous administration. The lower limit of quantification for peramivir in plasma was 1 ng/mL and the upper limit of quantification was 50,000 ng/mL. The within-day and between-day precisions expressed as RSD, were lower than 8% at all tested quality control concentrations and below 11% at the lower limit of quantification. Validation of over-curve samples ensured that it would be possible with dilution if samples went outside the calibration range

Lumefantrine and desbutyl-lumefantrine population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships in pregnant women with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria on the Thailand-Myanmar border

Artemether-lumefantrine is the most widely used antimalarial artemisinin-based combination treatment. Recent studies have suggested that day 7 plasma concentrations of the potent metabolite desbutyl-lumefantrine correlate better with treatment outcomes than those of lumefantrine. Low cure rates have been reported in pregnant women with uncomplicated falciparum malaria treated with artemether-lumefantrine in northwest Thailand. A simultaneous pharmacokinetic drug-metabolite model was developed based on dense venous and sparse capillary lumefantrine and desbutyl-lumefantrine plasma samples from 116 pregnant patients on the Thailand-Myanmar border. The best model was used to evaluate therapeutic outcomes with a time-to-event approach. Lumefantrine and desbutyl-lumefantrine concentrations, implemented in an Emax model, both predicted treatment outcomes, but lumefantrine provided better predictive power. A combined model including both lumefantrine and desbutyl-lumefantrine did not improve the model further. Simulations suggested that cure rates in pregnant women with falciparum malaria could be increased by prolonging the treatment course. (These trials were registered at controlled-trials.com [ISRCTN 86353884].)