Measurement of flunixin in equine inflammatory exudate and plasma by high performance liquid chromatography.

The research is focused on the development of a dependable method for separating and measuring flunixin in horse inflammatory exudate and plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Research Methodology

• The researchers developed a method for the effective separation and accurate measurement of flunixin. Flunixin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in veterinary medicine, particularly in horses.
• Equine inflammatory exudate, a fluid emitted by horses as a reaction to inflammation, and plasma were used for the study. High-performance liquid chromatography, a type of column chromatography used in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to identify, quantify, and purify individual components of a mixture, was employed.
• Using an ultraviolet spectrophotometric detector at a wavelength of 285 nm, flunixin was detected in concentrations as low as 0.05 micrograms per milliliter.

Sample Preparation

• Samples were acidified with 2M hydrochloric acid and then extracted with dichloromethane. Dichloromethane is a volatile, colorless liquid that is primarily used as a solvent.
• After this extraction, the sample was evaporated and then reconstituted in acetonitrile. Acetonitrile is a simple organic compound used as a solvent in the purification and manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
• Iminodibenzyl was used as the internal standard. This means it was utilized within the sample to improve the accuracy and precision of results.
• The mean recovery of flunixin from the plasma samples was very high, 97.6 +/- 3.9 per cent, indicating that the separation process was consistent and accurate.

Main Findings and Advantages

• The research demonstrated an effective method for detecting flunixin in both plasma and acute inflammatory exudate. The researchers found that flunixin distributes differently in plasma and acute inflammatory exudate, and that the drug is cleared more slowly from exudate than from plasma.
• The method developed in the research has several advantages, namely short analysis time and ease of sample preparation, which make it a potentially helpful tool for the veterinary field.