Thin-layer and gas chromatographic determination of ketamine and its biotransformed products in biological fluids

Ketamine, (2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-methylamine cyclohexanone) and its in vivo metabolite I (2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-aminocyclohexanone) and metabolite II (2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-amino-5-cyclohexene-1-one) were determined by thin-layer (TLC) and gas chromatography (GC). In vivo studies include intraperitoneal injection of ketamine in rats. Urine and blood samples were collected at regular intervals. The unreacted ketamine and its biotransformed products were extracted from urine and blood and subjected to TLC and GC analysis. 1% Carbowax-20M on Gas Chrom G-AW-DMCS and precoated LQ6D TLC plates were used in this study. In conclusion a rapid, simple, accurate, and sensitive thin-layer and gas chromatographic method for the identification of ketamine and its metabolites from biological fluids have been developed.