Determination of paracetamol in urine by liquid chromatography

Since the biotransformation of paracetamol (Acetaminophen) is practically confined to conjugation, the quantitative determination of paracetamol excretion may provide important information on phase II of the drug metabolism. We elaborated a simple and rapid liquid chromatographic method for the assessment of paracetamol and its conjugated metabolites in the urine to be available for routine use in the clinicopharmacological laboratory. The persons involved in the trial were administrated 500 mg of paracetamol to be taken on an empty stomach in the morning. Subsequently, their urine was collected for 8 hours. The so-called free paracetamol of unchanged form excreted into the urine was measured from this 0 to 8 hours' urine fraction, then, after treating it with beta-glucuronidase/arysulphatase enzyme, the total amount of paracetamol released from the conjugate, as well as that of the existing free paracetamol, the so-called total paracetamol were determined. The urine extracts containing paracetamol obtained by ethylacetate, at pH 10, and dried under nitrogen stream were analysed by HPLC on an ODS column in an eluent of methanol and water mixture (3:7, v/v) in the presence of 3-acetaminophenol internal standard. The flow rate was 1 ml/min, the detection wavelength was 254 nm.