Development of a method by UPLC–MS/MS for the quantification of tizoxanide in human plasma and its pharmacokinetic application

Background: Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is used for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract colonization by anaerobic bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that represent a major cause of morbidity in Latin America. The aim of the present work was to develop and validate a UPLC–MS/MS method for the selective quantification of tizoxanide (TZN, the major metabolite of NTZ) in human plasma using niclosamide as internal standard; and examine its pharmacokinetic application in healthy volunteers. Nine male subjects received a single oral dose of a NTZ 500-mg tablet under fasting conditions. Results: The method was linear between 0.1 and 10 µg/ml and capable of...