DETERMINATION OF METHYLEUGENOL IN RODENT PLASMA BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A method has been developed and validated for the analysis of methyleu genol, a volatile flavoring agent, in rodent plasma at concentrations from 0.050 to 10.0 mu g/ml. The method involves the addition of aceton itrile to the plasma, removal of the protein precipitate, and analysis of the supernatant by reversed-phase (C-18) HPLC using an acetonitril e-water mixture with UV detection. The precision, accuracy, sensitivit y, and specificity of the method were assessed. The stability of methy leugenol in plasma, during freeze-thaw cycles, refrigerated at the ext ract stage, and during the analysis was evaluated. The recovery of met hyleugenol from plasma was also determined. This method was found to b e acceptable for plasma concentrations in toxicokinetic studies of met hyleugenol in rodents. Over 400 samples from toxicokinetic studies hav e been successfully analyzed to date. Kinetic data from a preliminary single administration intravenous and oral study in rats is also prese nted.