Separation and Identification of Amfepramone in Plasma and Urine by HPTLC

Abstract

Amfepramone called also diethylpropion or diethylcathinone, is a stimulant drug of the amphetamine class that is used as an appetite suppressant. Regarding the abuse, amfepramone is considered to have a low potential. However, recently there have been reports of amfepramone abuse in teens and adults. We developed a simple HPTLC (High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) method for the determination of amfepramone in plasma and urine. Pre-coated glass plates (silica gel 60 F254 as stationary phase) and methanol: ammonia as mobile phase were used, while the detection was performed by densitometry in the absorbance (reflectance) mode at 254 nm. A liquid-liquid extraction (with tertbuthylmethyleter) at alkaline pH has been applied. The obtained results indicate that amfepramone has been identified both in simulated samples and in real urine samples (collected from volunteers treated with amfepramone).