The in vitro hepatic microsomal metabolism of 3,5-dimethyl-4-(phenylazo)-(1H)-pyrazole in rats

The in vitro hepatic microsomal metabolism of 3,5-dimethyl-4-(phenylazo)-(1H)-pyrazole (DMPAP) was studied using washed rat hepatic microsomal preparations fortified with NADPH. The substrate, DMPAP, and its potential metabolites, i.e. the corresponding reduction product, 3,5-dimethyl-4-amino-(1H)-pyrazole (DMAP), and the oxidation product, 3,5-dimethyl-4-(phenylazoxy)-(1H)-pyrazole (DMAPO), were synthesized and their structures elucidated by use of their spectral characteristics. DMPAP and its potential metabolites were then separated using a reverse phase HPLC system consisting of a C18 column and a mobile phase of acetonitrile:water (50:50) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min with UV detection at 254 nm. DMPAP was incubated with rat microsomal preparations, extracted into DCM in the presence of NaCl, and finally evaporated under a stream of nitrogen. The results from HPLC studies showed that DMPAP was metabolised to the corresponding reduction and oxidation products in the presence of NADPH.