Simultaneous determination of digoxin and permeability markers in rat in situ intestinal perfusion samples by RP-HPLC

A simple, sensitive and specific reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) assay for simultaneous determination of digoxin and permeability markers, in samples obtained from intestinal in situ single-pass perfusion studies, was developed and validated. Chromatography was carried on C-18 column with mobile phase comprising of acetate buffer (pH 3.0), acetonitrile and methanol in the ratio of 50:25:25 (v/v/v), was pumped at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min and UV detection was employed at 220 nm. The average retention times for phenolred, propranolol, frusemide and digoxin were 9.1, 10.7, 12.9 and 15.3 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (R2 > 0.998) in the range for each analyte. The method is specific and sensitive with limit of quantification of 25 ng/ml for digoxin and frusemide and 10 ng/ml for phenolred and propranolol. The method is accurate and precise with recoveries of digoxin in the range of 95.2 and 103.2% and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) <5%. We found that this method was simple and reliable in permeability determination and to estimate the contribution of P-glycoprotein in limiting intestinal absorption.