Synthesis and characterization of centhaquin and its citrate salt and a comparative evaluation of their cardiovascular actions.

Centhaquin is a compound that produces hypotension and bradycardia in higher doses and resuscitation in lower doses. It is water insoluble, and is unsuitable for intravenous use. We prepared the citrate salt of centhaquin and evaluated its cardiovascular efficacy vs. centhaquin. Centhaquin citrate was prepared and characterized; its purity was determined by HPLC. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), pulse pressure (PP), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV) and stroke work (SW) following intravenous administration of centhaquin and the citrate (0.05, 0.15 and 0.45 mg.kg −1 ) were determined in anaesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. Centhaquin citrate was 99.8% pure and water soluble. Centhaquin (0.05, 0.15 and 0.45 mg.kg −1 ) produced a maximal decrease in MAP of 15.6, 25.2 and 28.1%, respectively; while centhaquin citrate produced a greater (p −1 centhaquin produced a maximal decrease of 20.9% (p