Bioanalytical method for estimation of procyclidine in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: Application to pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, selective and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for quantification of procyclidine hydrochloride in human plasma using Procyclidine D11 hydrochloride as internal standard. Liquid-liquid extraction technique with methyl tertiary butyl ether was used for the extraction of plasma samples. Chromatographic separation of the analyte and the internal standard from the endogenous components was done on Zodiac C 18 column (50 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using a mixture of methanol and 0.1% formic acid in water (70:30, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with the run time of 2 min. The detection of the eluents was done using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive ion mode. Linearity of the method was established in the concentration range of 0.5 to 120 ng/mL. Full validation of the method was done as per USFDA guidelines and the results were well within the acceptance limits. The successful application of the method was done on healthy human subjects under fasting conditions, proving it to be used for bioequivalence and bioavailability (BA/BE) studies of procyclidine.