An isocratic ion pair RP-HPLC method with UV-Vis detection has been developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of 4-nitrophenol (PNP), 4-nitrophenyl β-glucuronide (PNP-G), and 4-nitrophenyl sulfate (PNP-S) in rat bile samples using 4-ethylphenol (ETP) as internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C(18) column by isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisted of methanol-0.01 M citrate buffer pH 6.2 (47:53 v/v) containing 0.03 M TBAB. The flow rate was 1.0 ml min(-1), the detection was affected at 290 nm. Calibration plots were generated over the concentration range 1-100 μM PNP, PNP-G, PNP-S with a common lower limit of quantification of 2.5 μM. Intra- and inter-day precision and repeatability were determined at six different concentrations. Results obtained by application of the method for determination of PNP, PNP-G and PNP-S in bile fractions collected during intestinal perfusion of PNP in hyperglycemic rats are presented.
Keywords: 4-Nitrophenol; Glucuronic acid conjugate; Intestinal metabolism; RP-HPLC; Sulfate conjugate.