Stability and compatibility of doxofylline with phentolamine mesilate in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose injection for intravenous infusion.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The use of extemporaneously prepared admixtures of drugs must be supported by documentation of their chemical stability. The objective was to assess the physical compatibility and the chemical stability of doxofylline with phentolamine mesilate in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose injection for intravenous infusion. METHODS: Total volumes of 20 and 1 mL of doxofylline solution and phentolamine mesilate solution, respectively, were added to 250 mL polyolefin bags containing 5% dextrose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection. Bags were stored for 24 h at 20-25 °C. Chemical compatibility was measures with high-performance liquid chromatography, and physical compatibility was determined visually. RESULTS: The samples were clear and colourless when viewed in normal fluorescent room light. The pH value and particulate content of the admixtures exhibited little change. The retentions of the initial concentration of doxofylline and phentolamine mesilate in the admixtures were within 97-105%. Doxofylline and phentolamine mesilate were stable in 5% dextrose injection or in 0.9% sodium chloride for up to 24 h at 20-25 °C. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Doxofylline and phentolamine mesilate mixed in both 5% dextrose injection and 0.9% sodium chloride injection in 250 mL multilayer polyolefin bags at concentrations of 0.74 mg/mL and 36.9 µg/mL, respectively, were stable for up to 24 h at 20-25 °C.

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 C(18) 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.

Spectrophotometric determination of doxazosin mesylate in tablets by ion-pair and charge-transfer complexation reactions.

Two accurate, easy spectrophotometric methods for the determination of doxazosin mesylate were described. The first method was based on the formation of ion-pair complexes with the acidic sulfophthalein dyes bromocresol purple (BCP) and bromophenol blue (BPB) in pH 3.3 and 4.5 citrate-phosphate buffer, respectively. The formed complexes were extracted into dichloromethane, and their absorbance was measured at 403 and 410 nm for BCP and BPB, respectively. The second method was based on the charge transfer reaction of the drug as an n-electron donor with either 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) or 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) as pi-acceptors, to give colored radical anions. The absorbances of products were measured at 457 nm in acetonitrile and 838 nm in methanol for DDQ and TCNQ, respectively. Under the optimum reaction conditions, Beer's law was obeyed with a good correlation coefficient (r = 0.9997-0.9999) in the concentration ranges 3.0-18.0, 3.0-20.0, 15.0-95.0, and 10.0-100.0 microg/mL for the BCP, BPB, DDQ, and TCNQ methods, respectively. Limits of detection of the BCP, BPB, DDQ, and TCNQ methods were 0.314, 0.408, 1.935, and 1.610 microg/mL, respectively. The limits of quantification were 1.045, 1.360, 6.449, and 5.367 microg/mL, respectively. The parameters molar absorptivity, precision, accuracy, recovery, robustness, and stability constant were studied. The proposed methods were successfully applied for determination of the drug in tablets with good accuracy and precision. Statistical comparison of the results with those obtained by a reported method showed good agreement and indicated no significant difference in accuracy and precision.

HPLC analysis, isolation and identification of a new degradation product in carvedilol tablets.

Carvedilol (CV) is an antagonist of alpha1 and beta1,beta2 membrane adrenoceptors and also a modulator of cardiac electrophysiological properties. It is widely prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. During stability testing of CV solid dosage forms an unknown degradation product referred as UP, exceeded the identification thresholds of ICH Q3B guidelines. The HPLC analysis of the detected unknown product was performed by a newly, developed, specific and validated method, also suitable for the quantitative determination of the known CV impurities (imp B, C, E and F) and the other degradation products. The separation was achieved with an X-terra C18 column, using acetonitrile-phosphate buffer pH 2.5 as mobile phase. The isolation of UP was carried out by semi-preparative chromatography method, followed by deep freezing of the collected fractions until the organic and the aqueous phases were separated. Chromatographic behaviour of CV and UP was compared, in mobile phases of different pH and gave valuable information concerning the dissimilarities of their ionization. UP was further studied by MS and 1H NMR spectrometry, revealing structural similarities with the parent molecule. Finally, the unknown peak of degradation product was attributed to a new compound generated from the interaction of CV molecule and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) in the presence of water molecules. Moisture and temperature was proved to affect the formation of UP and its concentration in CV tablets. Appropriate modifications of the packaging of CV tablets can be made in order to reduce UP concentration down to the accepted levels, during the tablets' shelf life.

Stability-indicating spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods for determination of alfuzosin hydrochloride in the presence of its degradation products.

Validated stability-indicating spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric assays (SIAMs) were developed for the determination of alfuzosin hydrochloride (ALF) in the presence of its oxidative, acid, and alkaline degradation products. Three spectrophotometric methods were suggested for the determination of ALF in the presence of its oxidative degradation product; these included the use of zero order (0D), first order (1D), and third order (3D) spectra. The absorbance was measured at 330.8 nm for (0D) method, while the amplitude of first derivative (1D) method and that of third derivative (3D) method were measured at 354.0 and 241.2 nm, respectively. The linearity ranges were 1.0-40.0 microg/ml for (0D) and (1D) methods, and 1.0-10.0 microg/ml for (3D) method. Two spectrofluorimetric methods were developed, one for determination of ALF in the presence of its oxidative degradation product and the other for its determination in the presence of its acid or alkaline degradation products. The first method was based on measuring the native fluorescence of ALF in deionized water using lamda(excitation) 325.0 nm and lamda(emission) 390.0 nm. The linearity range was 50.0-750.0 ng/ml. This method was also used to determine ALF in human plasma with the aid of a suggested solid phase extraction method. The second method was used for determination of ALF via its acid degradation product. The method was based on the reaction of fluorescamine with the primary aliphatic amine group produced on the degradation product moiety. The reaction product was determined spectrofluorimetrically using lamda(excitation) 380.0 nm and lamda(emission) 465.0 nm. The linearity range was 100.0-900.0 ng/ml. All methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, and applied to bulk powder and pharmaceutical formulations.

Decreased alpha2-adrenergic receptor in the brain stem and pancreatic islets during pancreatic regeneration in weanling rats.

Sympathetic stimulation inhibits insulin secretion. alpha(2)-Adrenergic receptor is known to have a regulatory role in the sympathetic function. We investigated the changes in the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors in the brain stem and pancreatic islets using [(3)H]Yohimbine during pancreatic regeneration in weanling rats. Brain stem and pancreatic islets of experimental rats showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in norepinephrine (NE) content at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy. The epinephrine (EPI) content showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in pancreatic islets while it was not detected in brain stem at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy. Scatchard analysis of [(3)H]Yohimbine showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in B(max) and K(d) at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy in the brain stem. In the pancreatic islets, Scatchard analysis of [(3)H]Yohimbine showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in B(max) and K(d) (p<0.05) at 72 h after partial pancreatectomy. The binding parameters reversed to near sham by 7 days after pancreatectomy both in brain stem and pancreatic islets. This shows that pancreatic insulin secretion is influenced by central nervous system inputs from the brain stem. In vitro studies with yohimbine showed that the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors are inhibitory to islet DNA synthesis and insulin secretion. Thus our results suggest that decreased alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors during pancreatic regeneration functionally regulate insulin secretion and pancreatic beta-cell proliferation in weanling rats.

Enantiomeric resolution of doxazosin mesylate and its process-related substances on polysaccharide chiral stationary phases.

High-performance liquid chromatographic methods for separation of racemic doxazosin mesylate and its synthetic precursors on polysaccharide based stationary phases viz., amylose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralpak AD-H) and cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OD-H) were developed. The base line separation with Rs>1.50 was obtained using a mobile phase containing n-hexane-alcohol-0.1% diethylamine (ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol) in various proportions. The effect of concentration of the alcoholic modifiers on the resolution was studied. A good separation was achieved on amylose based Chiralpak AD-H column when compared with cellulose based Chiralcel OD-H. The effects of structural features of the solutes and solvents on discrimination between the enantiomers were examined. The detection was carried out at 240 nm with UV detector while identification by polarimetric detector connected in series. The method was suitable not only for process development of doxazosin mesylate but also determination of enantiomeric purity of bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Chiral separation of tamsulosin by capillary electrophoresis.

Enantiomers of (+/-) 5-[2 (R,S)-{[2-(o-ethoxyphenoxy) ethyl] amino} propyl]-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonamide (tamsulosin, drug frequently used in the treatment of prostate diseases) were separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE). An acidic background electrolyte (BGE) with sulfated-beta-cyclodextrin (S-beta-CD) was used to create a chiral separation environment. Baseline separation of the isomers was achieved during 5 min using cathodic electro-osmotic flow (EOF) (countercurrent mode). The quantification limits were 5.3 x 10(-6) moll(-1) for R-isomer and 5.7 x 10(-6) moll(-1) for S-isomer. The R.S.D. values of peak area were 0.54% for R-isomer and 0.75% for S-isomer. The results achieved enable determination of 0.5% of optical impurity.

Enantiomeric purity determination of tamsulosin by capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins and a polyacrylamide-coated capillary.

The chiral separation of racemic tamsulosin hydrochloride (TH) was carried out using cyclodextrin (CD)-mediated capillary electrophoresis (CE) with DAD at 200 nm. The best separation of enantiomers of the studied compound was achieved at 20 kV with 30 cm x 50 microm I.D. polyacrylamide (PAA)-coated fused-silica capillary (effective length 20 cm) and running buffer with sulfated-beta-CD (S-beta-CD) as chiral selector. Other selected native or derivatized CDs were also tested: beta-CD (5, 15 mmol l(-1)), carboxymethyl-beta-CD (5, 30 mmol l(-1)), dimethyl-beta-CD (15 mmol l(-1)) and hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (5, 30 mmol l(-1)). Several parameters such as capillary pretreatment, buffer type and concentration, pH of background electrolyte, methanol content, separation temperature and voltage, were optimized. The excellent baseline separation of chiral TH was successfully achieved within 12 min using 100 mmol l(-1) phosphate buffer with pH 2.5 containing 1.7 mmol l(-1) S-beta-CD. Rectilinear calibration range was 50.0-500.0 mumol l(-1) of each enantiomer (r = 0.9993-0.9996). The method was applied to the assay of R-TH in Omnic, capsules (nominal content 0.4 mg per capsule) with R.S.D. 2.75% (n = 6), recovery 99.3-101.7% and it was suitable for the chiral purity control of the active enantiomer in the pharmaceutical.

Rayleigh light scattering detection of three α1-adrenoceptor antagonists coupled with high performance liquid chromatograph.

Herein, a Rayleigh light-scattering (RLS) detection method combined with high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) without any post-column probe was developed for the separation and determination of three α1-adrenoceptor antagonists. The quantitative analysis is benefiting from RLS signal enhancement upon addition of methanol which induced molecular aggregation to form an hydrophobic interface between aggregates and water that produce a sort of superficial enhanced scattering effect. A good chromatographic separation among the compounds was achieved using a Gemini 5u C18 reversed phase column (250 mm × 4.6 mm; 4 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and ammonium acetate-formic acid buffer solution (25 mM; pH=3.0) at the flow rate of 0.7 mL min(-1). The RLS signal was monitored at λex=λem=354 nm. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.065-0.70 µg L(-1) was reached and a linear range was found between peak height and concentration in the range of 0.75-15 µg L(-1) for doxazosin mesylate (DOX), 0.075-3.0 µg L(-1) for prazosin hydrochloride (PRH), and 0.25-5 µg L(-1) for terazosin hydrochloride (TEH), with linear regression coefficients all above 0.999. Recoveries from spiked urine samples were 88.4-99.0% which is within acceptable limits. The proposed method is convenient, reliable and sensitive which has been used successfully in human urine samples.

Analogs of phosphatidylcholine: alpha-adrenergic antagonists from the renal medulla.

Antihypertensive polar renomedullary lipid (APRL), a conglomerate of 1-0-alkyl-2-acetoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine analogs, ws tested in 4- to 6-week-old spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats using microcirculatory techniques. APRL (0.5 ug/ml), when added to the solution bathing the cremaster muscle, caused significant changes in the diameter, red blood cell velocity, and blood flow in both groups of rats, for arterioles and venules. Arteriolar changes in diameter were significantly greater (p less than 0.05) in SHR than in WKY. Micropipette application of APRL indicated a dose-dependent response for arterioles and venules in both groups. Moreover, the potent nature of this compound was demonstrated. Relative potency of APRL given intravenously was tested in 10- to 12-week-old SHR and WKY. The response curve was shifted significantly to the left for SHR (p less than 0.01). APRL interaction with known controllers of blood flow was tested in SHR. Blockade of cholinergic, beta-adrenergic, or histaminergic receptors did not inhibit APRL action. blockade of prostaglandin or bradykinin synthesis did not prevent depression of blood pressure by APRL. APRL (40 ug/kg) inhibited (p less than 0.001) the pressor response to norepinephrine (1-10 ug/kg) but not to angiotensin II (4 ug/kg). The present study provides direct evidence that APRL is a vasodilator with increased potency in SHR hypertension. The acute vascular response may be mediated by alpha-adrenergic antagonism.

Capillary electrophoresis of cardiovascular drugs.

This review surveys the use of capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of cardiovascular drugs. Each section presents examples of separations according to the class of the cardiovascular agent. The classes presented are beta-adrenergic antagonists (beta-blockers), acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, dieuretics, alpha-adrenergic antagonists, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, hypolipidemics (HmG-CoA reductase inhibitors and fibric acid), vasodilators and sodium channel blockers. Examples of the separation modes discussed include capillary electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic chromatography using many additives (e.g. sodium dodecyl sulfate, cyclodextrins, bile salts, proteins, oligosaccharides) and isotachophoresis.

Direct enantiomeric separation of mianserin and 6-azamianserin derivatives using chiral stationary phases.

The direct enantiomeric separation of mianserin and 6-azamianserin and some of their derivatives, respectively, by means of HPLC using two different chiral selectors was investigated. For the cellulose-based Chiralcel OD column, a strong dependence of the lipophilicity of the compounds tested on the retention behaviour was observed. To some extent, this was also found for the enantiomeric separation on the amylose-based Chiralpak AD column. In some cases a complementary behaviour of these two phases was observed: racemic mixtures that could not be separated by one column could be resolved by the other one.

13C-NMR spectra of alpha-adrenergic blocking agents.

The natural abundance 13C-NMR spectra of five alpha-adrenergic blocking agents, tolazoline, dibenamine, azapetine, phenoxybenzamine, and phentolamine, are reported. The chemical shifts of various carbon resonances were assigned on the basis of chemical shift theory, multiplicities observed in single-frequency off-resonance-decoupled spectra, relaxation times, and comparisons with the chemical shifts of model compounds.

Voltammetric determination of doxazosin in tablets using rotating platinum electrode.

This study describes the voltammetric behaviour of doxazosin molecule based on the oxidation on the surface of platinum electrode in the stationary and rotating conditions and determine doxazosin in the tablets by differential pulse technique at only rotating condition. The experiments were carried out in the supporting electrolyte consisting of 0.2 M KCl and 0.2 M buffer solution in 10% (v/v) ethanol. The effect of initial potential was investigated and no adsorption effect was observed during use of +500 mV. The influence of pH on the peak current and peak potential was examined and the most symmetrical peaks were obtained at 0.5 M H2SO4 for rotating conditions. In the rotation range of 50-1000 rpm and up to 1.0x10(-5) M doxazosin, the factor affecting the voltammetric current was diffusional. The effect of rate of potential was tested between 2 and 20 mV for the stationary condition and the character of current was found to be diffusional up to 3x10(-5) M concentration of doxazosin solutions. The voltammetric determination of doxazosin in tablets was realised in the optimum rotating system conditions and depending on the statistical evaluations, acceptable results were obtained. Therefore, the method proposed in this study is practical, sensitive and accurate for the analysis of doxazosin in the quality control laboratories.

Flow injection analysis of doxazosin mesylate using UV-detection.

A flow injection analysis (FIA) of doxazosin mesylate (DOX) using UV detection is described in this study. The best solvent system was found to be consisting of 0.1 mol l(-1) acetate buffer at pH 4 having 10%MeOH. A flow rate of 1 ml min(-1) was pumped and active material was detected at 365 nm. The calibration equation was linear in the range of 1.3 x 10(-5) to 6.4 x 10(-5) mol l(-1). Limit of detection and limit of quantitation were calculated to be 1.6 x 10(-6) and 4 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) with a RSD 1.27 and 1.16% (n=8), respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of DOX in the pharmaceutical preparations. The results were compared with those obtained from UV-Spectrophotometry. The results showed that there is a good agreement between FIA method and UV-Spectrophotometry. The validation studies were realised by the related applications and the results were evaluated statistically. According to the results, insignificant difference was observed between the methods.

Determination of alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists in plasma by radioreceptor assay.

A simple, rapid and sensitive radioreceptor assay (RRA) for the quantification of alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists such as prazosin in plasma is described. The method involves the use of an RRA based on [3H]prazosin displacement in rat cerebral cortical membranes. The method is reliable, with intra-assay and inter-assay RSDs ranging from 5.9 to 9.2%. The limit of detection is 0.2 (prazosin hydrochloride), 0.05 (tamsulosin hydrochloride) and 0.3 (bunazosin hydrochloride) pmol per assay. Using this method the plasma levels of prazosin hydrochloride were determined in beagle dogs administered orally 2.39 mumol kg-1 of this drug. The plasma levels of prazosin in beagle dogs are in good agreement with those obtained using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This RRA proved to be applicable to the monitoring of plasma prazosin levels in patients with essential hypertension and/or benign prostatic hypertrophy receiving therapy with this drug with the therapeutic dosage schedule. Thus, the concentrations of alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists in plasma can be adequately monitored by RRA as well as by HPLC.

Stability-indicating methods for the determination of doxazosin mezylate and celecoxib.

Two stability-indicating methods were developed for the determination of doxazosin mesylate (I) and celecoxib (II) in the presence of their degradation products. The first method depends on the use of first derivative spectrophotometry (D(1)) at 256, 269 nm for (I) and (II), respectively. This method determines (I) and (II) in concentration ranges of 0.8-12 and 1-20 microg ml(-1) with mean percentage accuracies of 99.21+/-0.88 and 99.59+/-1.67% for (I) and (II), respectively. The second method depends on the quantitative densitometric evaluation of thin-layer chromatography of (I) and (II) in the presence of their degradation products without any interference. Methylisobutyl ketone-glacial acetic acid-water (20:10:10) was used as a mobile phase for (I) and cyclohexane-dichloromethane-diethyleamine (50:40:10) for (II). The chromatograms were scanned at 248 and 253 nm for (I) and (II), respectively. This method determines (I) and (II) in concentration ranges of l-4 microg per spot for both drugs with mean percentage accuracies of 100.19+/-0.95 and 99.91+/-1.95% for (I) and (II), respectively. The suggested methods were used to determine doxazosin mesylate and celecoxib in bulk powder, laboratory-prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical dosage forms (cardura tablet and celebrex capsule). The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analysed and compared with those obtained by the reported methods.

Autoradiographic localization and computerized quantification of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in spontaneously hypertensive rat kidney: [3H]bunazosin and [3H]yohimbine binding studies.

The autoradiographic localization of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors was identified in 22-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rat kidney, using alpha 1-selective ([3H]bunazosin) and alpha 2-selective ([3H]yohimbine) antagonists. [3H]Bunazosin binding was distributed predominantly over the cortex, less over the outer medulla and was absent from the inner medulla. [3H]Yohimbine binding was distributed predominantly over the medulla, less over the renal cortex and was absent from the inner medulla. In addition, the distribution of renal alpha-adrenoceptors was investigated in 3-, 7- and 22-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) using a computerized image analysis system. Renal alpha-adrenoceptors were both found to be increased in SHRs at all ages tested compared with their respective controls and were increased in both the cortex and the outer medulla. The increase in renal alpha-adrenoceptors was already present in 3-week-old SHRs whose systolic blood pressures did not differ significantly from those of the controls. The results strongly suggest that these abnormalities of renal alpha-adrenoceptors may play a critical role in the development of hypertension in SHRs.

Isotachophoretic determination of bisoprolol, clonidine, disopyramide and tolazoline in human fluids.

Separation and determination of bisoprolol, clonidine, disopyramide and tolazoline in control serum and in human urine was investigated by capillary isotachophoresis. The drugs were separated by using the cationic electrolyte system. viz., sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.64) (c1 = 10 mM)-beta-alanine. The compounds were almost totally isolated from serum by solid-phase extraction using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. The recovery of compounds varied from 87 to 99%. The linear calibration range was studied to apply the method to real human fluids. The limit of determination of the drugs was 40.0 micrograms/ml serum. The limit of determination by direct sampling for bisoprolol is 3 micrograms/ml urine.