An ultrasensitive method for the determination of thiouracil and phenylthiouracil using capillary zone electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence detection

Thiouracil: Comprehensive profile

Thiouracil, 2-sulfanylidene-1H-pyrimidin-4-one, has been used as anti-thyroid, coronary vasodilator, and in congestive heart failure. It was found to cause agranulocytosis and it is suspected to be teratogenic and carcinogenic. Owing to its high frequency of adverse reactions, especially agranulocytosis, its use was abandoned in favor of other, less toxic drugs, such as propylthiouracil and methimazole. Thiouracil refers both to a specific molecule consisting of a sulfated uracil and a family of molecules based upon the structure. An important member of this family is propylthiouracil, which is a thiourea antithyroid drug that acts by blocking the production of thyroid hormones; it also inhibits the peripheral deiodination of thyroxine to tri-iodothyronine. This profile is prepared to discuss and explain physical and chemical properties, proprietary and nonproprietary names of thiouracil and propylthiouracil. It also includes uses and applications, methods of preparation, thermal and spectral behavior and methods of analysis. In addition, metabolism, excretion and pharmacology of propylthiouracil are also discussed.

Determination of phenothiazines in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine using capillary electrophoresis with chemiluminescence detection

A CE instrument coupled with chemiluminescence (CL) detection was designed for the determination of promethazine hydrochloride (PTH) and promazine hydrochloride (PMH) in real samples. An important enhancement of the CL emission of luminol with potassium ferricyanide was observed in the presence of these phenothiazines; so this system was selected for their detection after CE separation. Parameters affecting the electrophoretic separation were optimized in a univariate way, while those affecting CL detection were optimized by means of a multivariate approach based on the use of experimental designs. Chemometrics was also employed for the study of the robustness of the factors influencing the postcolumn CL detection. The method allows the separation of the phenothiazines in less than 4 min, achieving LODs of 80 ng/mL for PMH and 334 ng/mL for PTH, using sample injection by gravity. Electrokinetic injection was used to obtain lower LODs for the determination of the compounds in biological samples. The applicability of the CE-CL method was illustrated in the determination of PTH in pharmaceutical formulations and in the analysis of PMH in human urine, using a previous SPE procedure, achieving an LOD of 1 ng/mL and recoveries higher than 85%.