Sensitive method for determination of nicorandil in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A sensitive method for the determination of nicorandil, an anti-anginal drug, has been developed. The method involves solid-phase extraction of the drug and an internal standard using a Bond-Elut PH extraction column, liquid-liquid extraction with methyl acetate and dichloromethane, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a mu Bondapak C18 column with an ultraviolet detector. The limit of determination in plasma was 3 ng/ml and the intra-day coefficient of variation (n = 7) was less than 10%.