Direct measurement of salicylphenolic glucuronide in human urine

Indirect measurement of salicylphenolic glucuronide (SPG) has suggested that the formation of this metabolite from therapeutic doses of salicyclic acid (SA) is capacity-limited in humans. A direct high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for SPG in human urine is described. SPG was prepared by a published method and purified by HPLC. On treatment with beta-glucuronidase, SPG yielded the expected amount of SA. Spectroscopic data, melting point, and optical rotation of the glucuronide and/or its triacetyl dimethyl ester derivative were consistent with the proposed structure. SPG was assayed using a 5-micron C18 column (temperature 55 degrees C) and fluorescence detection. A nonlinear gradient mobile phase at a flow rate of 2 ml/min was used, beginning with 100% 0.1 M pH 2.1 phosphate buffer and finishing with 84% buffer, 16% acetonitrile. Total run time was 25 min. Urine (10 microliter) was injected directly on the column, and quantitation was performed using urine standards. Within-run precision for SPG ranged from 1.2% at 150 mg/L to 2.4% at 5 mg/L. The limit of detection was less than 1 mg/L. A pilot study in two volunteers, each receiving a single 500-mg dose of sodium salicylate, was carried out to validate the usefulness of the assay.