Fluorimetric method of analysis for D-norpseudoephedrine hydrochloride, glycine and L-glutamic acid by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

The determination of D-norpseudoephedrine HCl, an appetite suppressant, and glycine and L-glutamic acid, both dietary supplements, in pharmaceutical formulations and dissolution media using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with fluorimetric detection is reported. A reagent solution containing omicron-phthalaldehyde and a reducing agent, mercaptoethanol, appeared to be the most favourable reagent for derivatising the three compounds. The use of this HPLC method allowed for selective and quantitatively accurate analysis and was sufficiently specific, precise and sensitive for analytical characterisation.