Validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ibuprofen enantiomers in plasma of broiler chickens.

To characterise the pharmacokinetic properties of each enantiomer of ibuprofen in broiler chickens, a stereospecific HPLC method based on a alpha1-acid glycoprotein bonded chiral stationary phase has been validated. S-(+)-naproxen was used as internal standard. Enantiomers of ibuprofen and S-(+)-naproxen were baseline separated using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH = 7 and 0.4% 2-propanol. The method is precise, specific, accurate and reproducible. Recoveries were higher than 80% and the limits of quantification for R-(-)- and S-(+)-ibuprofen were 1.16 and 1.37 microg ml(-1), respectively. The method seemed suitable for the pharmacokinetic studies of ibuprofen in chickens.