High-performance liquid chromatographic resolution of oxamniquine enantiomers: application to in vitro metabolism studies

Abstract

A method is described for the HPLC analysis of oxamniquine enantiomers in liver fraction incubates, using a second-generation alpha 1-acid glycoprotein-based column (Chiral-AGP). Oxamniquine is extracted from the incubation media by liquid-liquid extraction, using diethyl ether. The dried residue is redissolved in eluent, filtered, then injected directly onto the analytical column. The extraction method affords recoveries of oxamniquine of approximately 93%, at concentrations up to 525 micrograms/ml, with an average relative standard deviation of 5.9%. The limit of detection of the method (to give an SNR = 2 at 246 nm) is 0.3 ng on-column for the first eluting, laevorotatory enantiomer and 2.3 ng for the dextrorotatory isomer. The method allowed study of the depletion of oxamniquine enantiomers in liver postmicrosomal incubates. In the rat, a turnover of 21.9% was observed, with no apparent enantioselectivity. Similar observations were made for a mouse liver subcellular fraction incubation. The absence of enantioselectivity in this biotransformation may be attributable to the low substrate specificity of the oxidase or dehydrogenase enzymes involved.

Publication Title

Chirality

Share

COinS