A sensitive and fast ultra performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS) method for measurements of N‐butylscopolamine in plasma was developed and validated. A single protein precipitation was proposed for the clean up of the plasma and N‐methylhomatropine was added as internal standard (IS). The analyses were carried out using a C18 column and mobile phase of acetonitrile: 5 mM ammonium acetate + 0.1% formic acid (90:10, v/v). The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source in positive mode, was set up in selective reaction monitoring, to detect precursor → product ion 360.0 → 194.0 m/z and 290.3 → 138.0 m/z transitions, for N‐butylscopolamine and IS, respectively. The method was linear in 0.03 (lower limit of quantitation; LLOQ) – 10.00 ng/ml range for N‐butylscopolamine. Satisfactory selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and robustness were obtained for the UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method. The proposed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of healthy human volunteers; the results showed that the two scopolamine butylbromide formulations tested are not bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study was to evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior of two formulations of furosemide (CAS 54-31-9) 40 mg tablets, administered as a single dose to healthy subjects. Plasma concentrations of furosemide were determined with a validated method by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We obtained the parameters: AUC 0-t , AUC 0-∞ , K el , T 1/2 , C max e T max. The following parameters were determined in urine: Sodium, Potassium and Chlorine and the total volume. The 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of C max (93.63-121.92%), AUC 0-t (96.80-115.72%) and AUC 0-∞ (98.45-117.43%) respectively for test and reference. Statistical analysis of the similarity of the parameters for urinary volume, excretion of sodium, potassium and chlorine and assuming that both formulations reach the same plasma levels, we expect that the pharmacological effect is also the same. Whereas the rate and extent of absorption, both products can be considered therapeutic equivalents.

A sensitive and specific LC/MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of scopolamine butylbromide in human plasma. Scopolamine butylbromide and propanolol (internal standard) were extracted from the plasma by liquidliquid extraction with dichloromethane as the extraction solvent and separated on a C18 analytical column (50 4.6 mm id) maintained at 40C. The analytes were eluted at a constant flow rate of 0.45 mL/min; the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and a buffer of 5 mM ammonium acetate and 0.1 formic acid (60 + 40, v/v). The mass spectrometer, equipped with an electrospray source in the positive ionization mode, was set up in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode to monitor the transitions m/z 360.6 > 102.5 (scopolamine butylbromide) and m/z 259.7 > 115.6 (propanolol). The chromatographic separation was obtained within 2.0 min, and the responses were linear over the concentration range of 0.1040.00 ng/mL. The mean extraction recoveries of scopolamine butylbromide and propanolol from plasma were 69.00 and 80.76, respectively. Method validation parameters, such as specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and stability, were within the acceptable range. Moreover, when the proposed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of healthy human volunteers, the results showed that the two scopolamine butylbromide formulations tested are not bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption.

Secnidazole is an antimicrobial agent used primarily in the treatment of amoebiasis. For this bioequivalence study of secnidazole, twenty-eight healthy female volunteers were enrolled in a randomized crossover study. Each volunteer was given a single oral dose of secnidazole test preparation and then the reference preparation, or vice versa, with a wash out interval of two weeks. The plasma concentrations of secnidazole were determined by HPLC, and the samples were extracted with tert-butyl-methyl-ether: dicloromethane (60:40, v/v). Secnidazole and its parent compound metronidazole were separated on a C18 column with water:acetonitrile (85:15, v/v) as the mobile phase, and monitored at 310 nm. The ratio of mean C max , AUC 0−t and AUC 0−∞ values for the test and reference products were within the predetermined range established by ANVISA, demonstrating that the two formulations are bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption. Uniterms:Oral formulas/bioequivalence study. Secnidazole/bioavailability. Antimicrobials/ bioavailability. Secnidazol é um agente antimicrobiano utilizado principalmente no tratamento da amebíase. Para este estudo de bioequivalência de secnidazol em voluntários saudáveis, foram incluídos vinte e oito voluntárias mulheres no estudo randomizado cruzado. Cada voluntária recebeu uma única dose oral de secnidazol do produto teste e referência para comparação, com um intervalo de wash-out de duas semanas. As concentrações plasmáticas de secnidazol foram determinados por CLAE, as amostras foram extraídas com terc -butil-metil-éter: dicloromethano (60:40, v/v). O secnidazol e seu padrão interno metronidazol foram separados em uma coluna (C18 ) com fase móvel água ultra-pura:acetonitrila (85:15, v/v) e monitorado em 310 nm. As razões entre as médias geométricas de C máx , ASC 0-t e ASC 0-∞ , encontraramse dentro do estabelecido pela ANVISA, demonstrando que as formulações são bioequivalentes quanto à taxa e extensão de absorção Unitermos: Formulações orais/estudo de bioequivalência. Secnidazol/biodisponibilidade. Antimicrobianos/biodisponibilidade.

O uso empírico das plantas medicinais é uma prática mundialmente disseminada, cuja finalidade baseia-se no alívio/cura de algumas enfermidades. Objetivou-se caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico do uso domiciliar dessas plantas, pelos usuários de sete Unidades Básicas de Saúde com equipe Estratégia Saúde da Família, no município de Toledo/Paraná. Para tanto, foi aplicado um questionário a 324 pessoas. A análise dos dados mostrou que 89,50% dos entrevistados faziam uso de plantas medicinais, destes, 91,38% do sexo feminino, 42% com idade entre 21 e 40 anos, 30% sem concluir o ensino fundamental e 45,48% com renda per capita entre 01 a 03 salários mínimos. As folhas foram as partes das plantas mais utilizadas (45,10%), o modo de preparo predominante foi o chá em infusão (30,86%) e 83,64% tiveram o conhecimento de utilização das plantas repassado por familiares. Foram registradas 1.082 citações de 120 espécies de plantas, 50% destas não possuem registro na Denominação Comum Brasileira da Agência de Vigilância Sanitária; entre elas encontram-se espécies cujo conhecimento de senso comum é tão difundido que remete à incredulidade de ausência de estudos científicos para o fim citado, conferindo a falsa ideia de ausência de risco à saúde.