High resolution 1H NMR spectroscopic studies of the metabolism and excretion of ampicillin in rats and amoxycillin in rats and man

High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the metabolism and urinary excretion of the aminopenicillins, ampicillin and amoxycillin, in rats and of amoxycillin in man. 1H NMR resonances of the aminopenicillins, together with those for their 5R, 6R and 5S, 6R penicilloic acids and diketopiperazine metabolites were detected, assigned and quantified in urine samples with the aid of spin-echo NMR techniques. The dimer of amoxycillin was detected in rat urine for the first time together with novel drug-related resonances assigned to amoxycillin carbamate. Quantitative 1H NMR spectroscopic results were consistent with HPLC and microbiological data considering that only single measurements were recorded. Due to the short analysis time and simple sample preparation, NMR was particularly useful for studying the metabolism of the aminopenicillins for which sample degradation poses analytical problems. The non-invasive character of 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of urine also provided unique information on a reversible reaction between amoxycillin and bicarbonate, an endogenous urinary metabolite.