Skip to main content
Log in

Quantitation of phenobarbital and its main metabolites in human urine

  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A method for the quantitative determination of phenobarbital and free and conjugatedp-hydroxyphenobarbital in urine samples is described. The method includes initial extraction, purification on a small chromatographic column and finally determination by gas chromatography. The barbituric acids are methylated by trimethylanilinium hydroxide which serves as a “flash heater” methylating agent. The conjugate ofp-hydroxyphenobarbital, which appears to be a glucuronide, is hydrolysed with hydrochloric acid.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Algeri, E.J., McBay, A.J.: Metabolite of phenobarbital in human urine. Science123, 183–184 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Atkinson, A.J., MacGee, J., Strong, J., Garteiz, D., Gaffney, T.E.: Identification of 5-meta-hydroxyphenyl-5-phenylhydantoin as a metabolite of diphenylhydantoin. Biochem. Pharmacol.19, 2483–2491 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brochmann-Hanssen, E., Oke, T.O.: Gas chromatography of barbiturates, phenolic alkaloids, and xanthine bases: flash-heater methylation by means of trimethylanilinium hydroxide. J. pharm. Sci.58, 370–371 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Butler, T.C.: The metabolic hydroxylation of phenobarbital. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.116, 326–336 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Butler, T.C.: The metabolic conversion of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin to 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.119, 1–11 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chang, T., Glazko, A.J.: Quantitative assay of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin®) and 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin by gas-liquid chromatography. J. Lab. clin. Med.75, 145–155 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chang, T., Savory, A., Glazko, A.J.: A new metabolite of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin®). Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun.38, 444–449 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Glasson, B., Benakis, A.: Etude du phénobarbital C-14 dans l'organisme du rat. Helv. Physiol. Pharmacol. Acta19, 323–334 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Grover, P.L., Hewer, A., Sims, P.: Epoxides as microsomal metabolites of polycyclic hydrocarbons. FEBS Letters18, 76–80 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Harvey, D.J., Glazener, L., Stratton, C., Nowlin, J., Hill, R.M., Horning, M.G.: Detection of a 5-(3,4-dihydroxy-1,5-cyclohexadien-1-yl)-metabolite of phenobarbital and mephobarbital in rat, guinea pig and human. Res. Commun. chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.3, 557–565 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Horning, E.C., Horning, M.G.: Metabolic Prophiles: Gas-phase methods for analysis of metabolites. Clin. Chem.17, 802–809 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Horning, M.G., Butler, C., Harvey, D.J., Hill, R.M., Zion, T.E.: Metabolism of N,2-dimethyl-2-phenylsuccinimide (methsuximide) by the epoxide-diol pathway in rat, guinea pig and human. Res. Commun. chem. Pathol. Pharmacol.6, 565–578 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jalling, B., Boréus, L.O., Kållberg, N., Agurell, S.: Disappearance from the newborn of circulating prenatally administered phenobarbital. Europ. J. clin. Pharmacol.6, 234–238 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jalling, B.: Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentration of phenobarbital in infants given single doses. Develop. Med. Child Neurol.16, 781–793 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kållberg, N., Agurell, S., Boréus, L.O., Jalling, B.: Rapid gas chromatographic determination of phenobarbital in small plasma samples. Europ. J. clin. Pharmacol.3, 185–188 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Modin, R., Tilly, A.: Quantitative determinations by ion pair extraction. Ion pairs between quaternary ammonium ions and carboxylic acids and phenol. Acta pharm. suec.5, 311–322 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Nicholson, J.D.: The urinary excretion of phenobarbitone and pentobarbitone in the horse. Biochem. Pharmacol.17, 1–8 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Oesch, F., Morris, N., Daly, J.W., Gielen, J.E., Nebert, D.W.: Genetic expression of the induction of epoxide hydrase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities in the mouse by phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. Mol. Pharmacol.9, 692–696 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pierce, A.E., Rising, M.M.: Chemical studies of the mechanism of the narcosis induced by hypnotics. The synthesis of colored derivatives of phenobarbital. J. Amer. chem. Soc.58, 1361–1363 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Svendsen, A.B., Brochmann-Hanssen, E.: Gas chromatography of barbiturates II. Application to the study of their metabolism and excretion in humans. J. pharm. Sci.51, 494–495 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kållberg, N., Agurell, S., Ericsson, Ö. et al. Quantitation of phenobarbital and its main metabolites in human urine. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 9, 161–168 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614013

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614013

Key words

Navigation