SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF LOSARTAN AND ATORVASTATIN IN RAT PLASMA AND ITS APPLICATION TO PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY

Losartan, Atorvastatin, Valsartan, simultaneous determination, Pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, rapid, economic and precise RP-HPLC method for simultaneous analysis of Losartan (LOS) and Atorvastatin (ATR) in rat plasma has been developed and validated. Valsartan (VAL) was used as an internal standard. Extraction of the drug from the plasma was carried out by precipitation method. Analysis was performed using Kromasil C18 column (250 �?� 4.6 mm; 5μ) with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.02 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate (containing 0.1% heptanesulphonic acid, pH adjusted to 3.0 with ortho phosphoric acid) in the ratio of 55:45 (v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min-1. Chromatographic separation was monitored at 235 nm. The method was linear over a range of 10-1000 ng mL−1 for both the drugs. Limits of detection and Limits of quantification were 2.9 ng mL−1 and 8.8 ng mL−1 for LOS and 3.2 ng mL−1 and 9.8 ng mL−1 ATR respectively. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, specificity, recovery and stability. The applicability of this method in pharmacokinetic studies was demonstrated.