title: Simultaneous assay of the methylxanthine metabolites of caffeine in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography.
abstract: A fast and sensitive method by high performance liquid chromatography for the quantification of the methylxanthine metabolites of caffeine in human plasma is described. Plasma is extracted with 20% isopropanol in chloroform and the evaporated residue is redissolved and chromatographed on silica gel using dichloromethane containing 2.2% of a solution of methanol-ammonium formateformic acid (100:0.02:0.017). The method is suitable for metabolic and pharmacokinetic studies of all mono- and dimethylxanthines in plasma. The limits of quantification, with C.V. of 10% or less are 40 ng/ml for the dimethylxanthines, 100 ng/ml for 3- and 7-methylxanthine and 500 ng/ml for 1-methylxanthine.
mesh_terms: D002110:Caffeine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013805:Theobromine / Q000097:blood; D013806:Theophylline / Q000097:blood; D014970:Xanthines / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014970:Xanthines; D002110:Caffeine; D013806:Theophylline; D013805:Theobromine