Determination of nicotine and its main metabolites in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Nicotine and its main metabolites (cotinine, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine glucuronide, nicotine-1'-N-oxide and 3-pyridylcarbinol) were analysed in urine after liquid-liquid extraction by high-performance liquid chromatography using norephedrine as internal standard, ultraviolet detection at 260 nm and scanning ultraviolet spectra with a photodiode-array detector. The conjugated trans-3'-hydroxycotinine was determined after enzymatic hydrolysis. Specific determination of 3-pyridylcarbinol was also carried out. Owing to its good selectivity, sensitivity and reproducibility, the method was applied to the analysis of urine samples from smokers and non-smokers. The results obtained suggest that the urinary markers used to assess active smoking or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke must be not only nicotine and cotinine, but also their main free and conjugated metabolites.

[In vivo testing of a 3-hydroxymethylpyridine hydrogen tartrate matrix tablet. Part 2: Comparison between the in vivo drug release from the matrix form and that from Radecol-tablets (author's transl)]. / In-vivo-Testung einer 3-Hydroxymethylpyridinhydrogentartrat-Matrixtablette. 2. Mitteilung: Vergleich der Wirkstoffliberation aus der Matrixform in vivo mit Radecol-Tabletten.

The release characteristics of 3-hydroxymethylpyridine hydrogen tartrate matrix tablets (3-hydroxymethylpyridine = HMP) were studied in vivo by determining the metabolites excreted in the urine and compared with those of commercially available Radecol tablets. After the liberation of an initial dose, the drug is release little by little from the matrix tablet. The ingested silicone matrix is not altered by the passage through the gastrointestinal tract, it is excreted unchanged. No side-effects were seen after the application of two matrix tablets (approximately 150 mg HMP).