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Egg Phospholipids
DEFINITION
Egg Phospholipids is a mixture of naturally occurring phospholipids obtained from the yolk of hens’ eggs that is suitable for use as an emulsifying agent in
injectable emulsions. The content of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and other related phospholipids is to be reported
in the certificate of analysis. It may also contain a suitable stabilizer.

ASSAY

• CONTENT OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS
Solution A: 1341.6 g of n-hexane, 334.1 g of 2-propanol, 39.4 g of glacial acetic acid, and 1.45 g of triethylamine (or 2.0 mL triethylamine)
Solution B: 663.5 g of 2-propanol, 140.0 g of water, 15.8 g of glacial acetic acid, and 0.58 g of triethylamine
Solvent: n-Hexane, 2-propanol, and water (23:23:4). [NOTE—To avoid the formation of two phases, mix the 2-propanol and water first, and then add the n-hexane.]
Mobile phase: See the gradient table below.

Program Step Time (min) Flow (mL/min) Solution A (%) Solution B (%)

1 0 1.0 95 5

2 5.0 1.0 80 20

3 8.5 1.0 60 40

4 15.0 1.0 0 100

5 17.5 1.0 0 100

6 17.6 1.0 95 5

7 21.0 1.0 95 5

8 22.0 2.0 95 5

9 27.0 2.0 95 5

10 29.0 1.0 95 5

Standard solutions: Transfer USP Phosphatidylcholine RS, USP Phosphatidylethanolamine RS, and USP Lysophosphatidylcholine RS to separate flasks, dissolve
each in Solvent, and dilute. Standard solutions of five different concentrations are prepared on the basis of the expected content of phosphatidylcholine,
phosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylcholine in the sample. The Standard solutions should cover a range of 60% to 140%. Calculate the
concentrations of the Standards:

Result = WP/V

W = weight of the Standard (mg)

P = purity of the designated Reference Standard

V = volume of each of the Standard solutions (mL)

Sample solution: 100 mg of Egg Phospholipids in a 25-mL volumetric flask. Dissolve in Solvent, and dilute. Calculate the concentration, in mg/mL: this value is
used as the sample amount.
Chromatographic system
(See Chromatography 〈621〉, System Suitability.)
Mode: LC
Detector: evaporative light-scattering detector
Column: 4-mm × 125-mm; 5-µm packing L20
Column temperature: 55°
Injection size: 20 µL
System suitability
Sample: Standard solutions
[NOTE—The relative retention times for phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidylcholine are 1.00, 0.85, and 1.25, respectively.]
Suitability requirements
Relative standard deviation: NMT 5.0%
Analysis
Samples: Each of the Standard solutions and Sample solution
Identify the peaks of the relevant analytes in the chromatogram of the Sample solution by comparison with the chromatograms obtained from the Standard
solutions. Measure the areas of the analyte peaks. Plot the logarithms of the relevant responses versus the logarithms of the concentrations, in mg/mL,
of each analyte obtained from the Standard solutions, and determine the linear regression line using a least-squares analysis. The correlation coefficient

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for the linear regression line is NLT 0.995. From the graphs so obtained, determine the concentration, C, in mg/mL, of the relevant analyte in the Sample
solution.
Separately calculate the percentages of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylcholine in the portion of Egg Phospholipids
taken:

Result = (CV/W) × 100

C = concentration of the relevant analyte in the Sample solution (mg/mL)

V = volume of the relevant analyte in the Sample solution (mL)

W = weight of Egg Phospholipids in the Sample solution (mg)

Acceptance criteria: NMT 3.0% of lysophosphatidylcholine

IMPURITIES

Organic Impurities
• PROCEDURE: LIMIT OF NONPHOSPHATIDYL LIPIDS
Solvent: Diethyl ether
Sample solution: 500 mg of Egg Phospholipids, dissolved in 15 mL of Solvent, in a 50-mL conical flask
Chromatographic system
(See Chromatography 〈621〉, Column Chromatography.)
Mode: Column
Chromatographic column:
Transfer 1000 g of silica gel having a particle size of 0.05–0.2 mm into a container with well-closing screw caps. Add 150 g of water, shake well, and
allow to stand for 24 h. Suspend 15 g of prepared adsorbent in 50 mL of Solvent, and introduce into a 1- to 2-cm chromatographic column. Drain the
Solvent through the column to a level of about 1 cm above the silica gel bed.
Analysis
Sample: Sample solution
Transfer the Sample solution to the Chromatographic column. Rinse the column containing the Sample solution with two 15-mL portions of Solvent,
allowing each rinse to pass through the column before adding the next. After rinsing, elute with 105 mL of Solvent. Evaporate the eluate (150 mL) in a
tared, round–bottom, 250-mL conical flask to dryness, using a suitable rotary evaporator. The volatiles are blown out with a stream of nitrogen, and the
residue is dried at 105° for 20 min. The weight of the residue gives the oil fraction, determined as nonpolar lipids, in Egg Phospholipids.
Calculate the percentage of the nonphosphatidyl lipids taken:

Result = A/W × 100

A = weight of the residue (mg)

W = weight of Egg Phospholipids taken in the Sample solution (mg)

Acceptance criteria: NMT 7.0%

SPECIFIC TESTS

• FATS AND FIXED OILS, ACID VALUE 〈401〉: NMT 20.0

• FATS AND FIXED OILS, PEROXIDE VALUE 〈401〉: NMT 3

• BACTERIAL ENDOTOXINS TEST 〈85〉: NMT 6 USP Endotoxin Units/g

• MICROBIAL ENUMERATION TESTS 〈61〉 AND TESTS FOR SPECIFIED MICROORGANISMS 〈62〉: The total microbial count does not exceed 100 cfu/g. It meets the requirements
of the tests for absence of Salmonella species and Escherichia coli.

• WATER DETERMINATION, METHOD I 〈921〉

Sample: 2 g in 50 mL of anhydrous methyl alcohol
Acceptance criteria: NMT 6.0%

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• PACKAGING AND STORAGE: Preserve under nitrogen in a sealed container, and store at a temperature of −10° or below.

• USP REFERENCE STANDARDS 〈11〉

USP Phosphatidylcholine RS
USP Phosphatidylethanolamine RS
USP Lysophosphatidylcholine RS

Auxiliary Information- Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.

Topic/Question Contact Expert Committee

EGG PHOSPHOLIPIDS Mary P. Koleck CHM52015 Chemical Medicines Monographs 5

Senior Scientific Liaison
+1 (301) 230-7420

Chromatographic Columns Information: Chromatographic Columns

Most Recently Appeared In:

Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 33(4)

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