Fluorimetric determination of isoxsuprine hydrochloride in pharmaceuticals and biological fluids

Two simple and highly sensitive fluorimetric methods have been developed for the determination of isoxsuprine hydrochloride in bulk, in dosage forms and in biological fluids. The first method involves the direct measurement of the native fluorescence of the drug in the concentration range 0.4-4.0 microg ml(-1), the second method is based on the oxidation of isoxsuprine HCl with cerium(IV) followed by fluorimetric measurement in the concentration range 0.02-0.2 microg ml(-1). The average % found were 99.9 +/- 0.78 and 100.0 +/- 0.62 for the two methods, respectively. The minimum detectability (3 S(B)) were 0.11 and 0.007 microg ml(-1) for the two methods, respectively. The methods results showed insignificant difference with those of the official method.

Determination of phenolic sympathomimetic drugs in pharmaceutical samples and biological fluids by flow-injection chemiluminescence

A rapid and highly sensitive flow-injection chemiluminometric method was developed for determination of 3 sympathomimetic drugs, namely, etilefrine hydrochloride, isoxsuprine hydrochloride, and prenalterol hydrochloride. The method is based on chemiluminescence induced by oxidation of drugs with acidified potassium permanganate in the presence of formic acid as a carrier. The calibration graphs were linear over the concentration ranges 0.2-9, 0.2-12.5, and 0.025-1.25 microg/mL for the 3 compounds, respectively. The method was applied successfully in determining the drugs in dosage forms and in biological fluids. A proposal for the reaction pathway is suggested.

Voltammetric determination of isoxsuprine and fenoterol in dosage forms and biological fluids through nitrosation

A simple and highly sensitive voltammetric method was developed for the determination of isoxsuprine HCl (I) and fenoterol HBr (II) in dosage forms and biological fluids. The method is based on treatment of the two compounds with nitrous acid followed by measuring the cathodic current produced by the resulting nitroso derivatives. The voltammetric behavior was studied adopting Direct Current (DCt), Differential Pulse (DPP) and Alternating Current (ACt) polarography. Both compounds produced well-defined, diffusion-controlled cathodic waves over the whole pH range in Britton-Robinson buffers (BRb). At pH 11 and pH 9, the values of diffusion-current constants (Id), were 9.4 +/- 0.3 and 7.7 +/- 0.4 for I and II, respectively. The current-concentration plots for I were rectilinear over the range of 0.6-12 microg/ml and 0.1-12 microg/ml in the DCt and DPP modes, respectively. As for II, the range was 1-20 microg/ml and 0.1-20 microg/ml in the DCt and DPP modes, respectively. The minimum detectability (S/N = 2) were 0.02 microg/ml (approximately 6 x 10(-8) M) and 0.01 microg/ml (approximately 2.6 x 10(-8) M) for I and II, respectively, adopting the DPP mode. The proposed method was applied to the determination of both compounds in dosage forms and the results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using reference methods. The proposed method was further applied to the determination of isoxsuprine in spiked human urine and plasma. The percentage recoveries adopting the DPP mode were 98.84 +/- 1.18 and 99.26 +/- 0.97, respectively.

Direct MS-MS identification of isoxsuprine-glucuronide in post-administration equine urine

Isoxsuprine is routinely recovered from enzymatically-hydrolyzed, post-administration urine samples as parent isoxsuprine in equine forensic science. However, the specific identity of the material in horse urine from which isoxsuprine is recovered has never been established, although it has long been assumed to be a glucuronide conjugate (or conjugates) of isoxsuprine. Using ESI/MS/MS positive mode as an analytical tool, urine samples collected 4-8 h after isoxsuprine administration yielded a major peak at m/z 554 that was absent from control samples and resisted fragmentation to daughter ions. Titration of this material with increasing concentrations of sodium acetate yielded m/z peaks consistent with the presence of monosodium and disodium isoxsuprine-glucuronide complexes, suggesting that the starting material was a dipotassium-isoxsuprine-glucuronide complex. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry negative mode disclosed the presence of a m/z 476 peak that declined following enzymatic hydrolysis and resulted in the concomitant appearance of peaks at m/z 300 and 175. The resulting peaks were consistent with the presence of isoxsuprine (m/z 300) and a glucuronic acid residue (m/z 175). Examination of the daughter ion spectrum of this putative isoxsuprine-glucuronide m/z 476 peak showed overlap of many peaks with those of similar spectra of authentic morphine-3- and morphine-6-glucuronides, suggesting they were derived from glucuronic acid conjugation. These data suggest that isoxsuprine occurs in post-administration urine samples as an isoxsuprine-glucuronide conjugate and also, under some circumstances, as an isoxsuprine-glucuronide-dipotassium complex.

Screening and confirmatory analysis of beta-agonists, beta-antagonists and their metabolites in horse urine by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for the screening and confirmatory analysis of beta-agonists and -antagonists in equine urine is described. Following initial enzymic hydrolysis, the basic drugs and metabolites are extracted using Clean Screen DAU or Bond Elut Certify cartridges, and analysed as their trimethylsilyl ether or 2-(dimethyl) silamorpholine derivatives by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method proved to be very sensitive and selective for basic drugs. After administration of therapeutic doses of propranolol, metoprolol, timolol, isoxsuprine and clenbuterol to thoroughbred horses, the parent compound/metabolites could be detected in urine for upto 14-120 h depending on the drug.