Determination of noscapine and its metabolites in plasma by coupled-column liquid chromatography.
Noscapine, narcotoline and cotarnine were quantified in deproteinized plasma samples by using a coupled-column liquid chromatographic system. The drug and the metabolites were first separated into two groups on a short polar precolumn (-CN) with an acidic mobile phase, containing a low content of acetonitrile. The metabolites were transferred to a hydrophobic analytical column (C18) and separated with a mobile phase containing a counter ion and a co-ion in an acidic buffer with an high acetonitrile content. Noscapine was transferred to another hydrophobic analytical column (C18) with a mobile phase containing a counter ion in an acidic buffer with an high acetonitrile content. Ultraviolet detection at 310 nm was used for all three compounds. The limits of quantitation were 9 ng/ml for noscapine, 13 ng/ml for cotarnine and 20 ng/ml for narcotoline. The within-day precisions were better than 6% (relative standard deviation), and the absolute recoveries were above 82%.
Johansson
M
M
ACO Läkemedel AB, Research and Development Dept., Solna, Sweden.
Tufvesson Alm
A
A
Forsmo-Bruce
H
H
Jacobsson
S
S
Westerlund
D
D
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009665:Noscapine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines
D000470:Alkaloids; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; C059402:narcotoline; C004697:cotarnine; D009665:Noscapine