HPLC Method for the Determination of Nicorandil in Human Plasma

The present study is to determine of sensitive nicorandil analysis method using HPLC and measure the pharmacokinetics parameters (bioavailability, $C_{max}$, $T_{max}$, Ke, $T_{1/2}$) of nicorandil (5 mg, Tab; Choongwae Pharma Corporation). Plasma (500 ul) was mixed with furosemide (internal standard, 500 ug/ml). Detection wavelength was 256 nm. The mixture of 0.01 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile 80:20 (v/v) was used mobile phase. The HPLC separation was accomplished on ODC reverse HPLC column. The nicorandil was analyzed by a HPLC system, which consists of CAPCELL PAK C18 column (5 ${\mu}$m, 4.6 × 150 mm) and a chromatography data analysis S/W, using a isocratic mobile phase (mixture of 0.01 M ammonium acetate and acetonitrile 80:20 ) at 1.0 ml/min. Its sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and precision must be adequate for the bioavailabilty study of nicorandil, and the linearity ($r^2$ ≥ 0.9994) of nicorandil was also proved in the range of 0.05 ug/ml . 3 ug/ml. The pharmacokinetic parameters of nicorandil (5 mg) tablets were measured as the follow. AUC: 0.19 ug/ml·hr, $C_{max}$: 0.14 ug/ml, $t_{max}$: 0.58 hr, Ke: 0.11 hr., $t_{1/2\beta}$: 6.76 hrs. This method is simple and sensitive HPLC method using UV detector for determination of nicorandil in human plasma.