HPLC Separation of Theophylline, Paraxanthine, Theobromine, Caffeine and Other Caffeine Metabolites in Biological Fluids

Abstract

An HPLC method is described for rapid analysis of caffeine and seven of its metabolites in plasma, urine, milk and saliva in a single operation using a 5 μ C₁₈ reverse phase column. The metabolites are extracted with chloroform - iso-propanol (85:15) from 100 μL samples added to NH₄HCO₃. No interference from normal blood, urine, milk or saliva constituents was observed. The method is accurate and precise and separates 1,7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine) from 1,3-dimethylxanthine (theophylline). Sensitivity for most metabolites is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 μg/mL and the detectability is at the nanogram level.