Direct determination of S-(-)- and R-(+)-propranolol glucuronide in rat hepatic microsomes by RP-HPLC

Propranolol, available commercially as a racemic mixture, is a non-selective beta-adrenergic blocking agent used in the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris and cardiac arrhythmias. We have developed and validated an RP-HPLC assay method for direct determination of R-(+)- and S-(-)-propranolol glucuronide in rat hepatic microsomes to investigate the enantioselectivity of propranolol glucuronidation metabolism. A baseline separation of propranolol glucuronide enantiomers was achieved on a 5 microm reversed-phase ODS column, with a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 3.5, 0.067 mol/L) and methanol (55:45, v/v) as mobile phase. Ultraviolet detection was set at 220 nm, and p-nitrobenzoic acid was used as internal standard. The standard curve of assay for R-(+)- and S-(-)-propranolol glucuronide in spiked microsomal incubate showed good linearity throughout the concentration range from 0.50 to 20.0 micromol/L. The analytical method affords average recovery of 99.8 and 100.1% for R-(+)- and S-(-)-propranolol glucuronide, respectively. The method provides a high sensitivity and good precision for R-(+)- and S-(-)-propranolol glucuronide (RSD < 10%). The LOD was 0.15 micromol/L and the LOQ was 0.5 micromol/L (RSD < 8%, n = 5) for both R-(+)- and S-(-)-propranolol glucuronide. The method is simple, precise and accurate, and is suitable for quantifying the propranolol glucuronides enantiomers in rat hepatic microsomes.