DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF BENZOPHENONE-3 IN RATS

A precise, accurate, selective and sensitive liquid chromatographic method for the determination of benzophenone-3 in rat biological fluids and different tissues has been developed. The minimum detection limit for benzophenone-3 was 2.0 ng ml-1 and the retention time was 6.01 min. Standard curves for benzophenone-3 were linear in a wide range of concentrations in methanol and different body fluids, ranging from 6.25 ng ml-1 to 100-mu-g ml-1. To detect benzophenone-3 in rat whole blood after oral administration, HCl hydrolysis was required. Benzophenone-3 was found to produce a peak blood concentration 1 h after administration. Free benzophenone-3 in urine represented a very small percentage during the first 12 h after administration, while a higher concentration of the glucuronide conjugate was detected in the same time period.