Identification of new urinary metabolites in man of quinine using methane chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract

1. Six new metabolites of quinine have been identified in urine of man by methane chemical ionization g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 2. Metabolites identified were: unchanged quinine and dihydroquinine, 3-hydroxy-quinine, 3-hydroxydihydroquinine, 6′-hydroxycinchonidine, 6′-hydroxydihydrocincho-nidine, quinine-10,11-epoxide and quinine-10,11-dihydrodiol. 3. 10-Chloro-11-hydroxydihydroquinine was identified as an artifact of the isolation procedure. 4. Chloroquine and desethylchloroquine (artifacts) were identified in the urine, 17 days after completion of a 48 h treatment with chloroquine.