Determination of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazeprilat in plasma and urine by an enzymic method.

An enzyme inhibition assay for the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor benazeprilat is described. Plasma and urine samples were diluted and endogenous ACE was inactivated by heating. After incubation of the plasma samples with hippuryl-histidyl-leucine as substrate and blank plasma as the source of ACE, released hippuric acid was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Urine samples were incubated with [3H] hippuryl-glycyl-glycine and with rabbit lung extract as the source of ACE. Released [3H] hippuric acid was quantified by liquid scintillation counting. Drug standards for the standard curve were prepared in the biological matrix. A cross-check with a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method showed good agreement, demonstrating that this enzymic method is suitable for assessing drug bioavailability and pharmacokinetics.