Simultaneous determination of ephedrine / pseudoephedrine and other cold medicines in urine samples by Electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

• Main Authors: Hsian Yen, 顏祥
• Other Authors: Ahai chang Lua
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/44030109282545502749

碩士 === 慈濟大學 === 醫學生物技術研究所 === 97 === Abstract L-(+)-Pseudoephedrine (PEP) is the (S,S) diastereoisomer of ephedrine (EP), it is a naturally occurring alkaloid. Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are widely used in combination with other drugs for the clinical treatment of common cold, respiratory allergies. Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine , like other stimulants has been abused , are used as key ingredient for the production of the illicit drug (D)-methamphetamine. The objective of this study is to develop a simple ESI-MS/MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS methods for the screening and confirmation of 12 active ingredients commonly found in cold medicine, including pseudoephedrine and ephedrine in urine samples. The study is used to screen urines for the presence of pseudoephedrine / ephedrine at a cutoff concentration of 500 ng / mL. The urine samples were extracted by liquid /liquid extraction (LLE) after adjustment of its pH. For the screening procedure, extracts were injected directly into ESI-MS/MS system. The mobile phase was 50% water containing 0.1% formic acid and 50% methanol containing 0.1% formic acid .The analysis was performed at a flow rate of 0.2 mL / min and monitored with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) at an selected collision energy of 6 to 24 e V . For confirmation procedure, the separation of these cold medicines was achieved within 13 min on C18 column using LC gradient program. The analysis was performed at a flow rate of 0.32 mL / min and monitored with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) .The method was applied to determine whether pseudoephedrine and ephedrine were abused alone or co-administered with other ingredient in cold formulations. The cold medicines contain other ingredient such as analgesic, antihistamine, decongestant and antitussive.