 Bioassay is defined as the estimation of

the potency of an active principle in a unit

quantity of preparation.
OR
 Detection and measurement of the
concentration of the substance in a
preparation using biological methods.
 Bioassays, as compared to other methods of assay
(e.g. chemical or physical assay) is very important.
Because it is the only method of assay if
1. Active principle of drug is unknown or cannot be
isolated, e.g. insulin, posterior pituitary extract etc.
2. Chemical method is either not available or if
available, it is too complex and insensitive or
requires higher dose e.g. insulin, acetylcholine.
3. Chemical composition is not known, e.g. long acting
thyroid stimulants.
4. Chemical composition of drug differs but have the
same pharmacological action and vice-versa, e.g.
cardiac glycosides, catecholamines etc.
 The basic principle of bioassay is to
compare the test substance with the
International Standard preparation of the
same and to find out how much test
substance is required to produce the same
biological effect, as produced by the
standard.
Mainly two types are there.

Quantal

Graded
Quantal response: the response is in the
form of ‘all or none’, i.e. either no
response or maximum response.

Drugs producing quantal effect can be

bioassayed by End-point method.
 Graded response: response is proportional to the
dose and response may lie between no response
and the maximum response.

 Types:

• Bracketing /direct matching

• Interpolation
• Multiple point assays
Three point assay
Four point assay
Six point assay
• Cumulative dose response
1. End- point method
 The threshold dose producing a
predetermined effect is measured
 Comparison between the results of standard and
the test
drug is done.
 e.g. bioassay of digitalis in cats.

The cat is anaesthetized with chloralose and its

blood pressure
is recorded.
The moment the heart stops beating and blood pressure
falls to
zero, the volume of fluid infused is noted down.

Two series of such experiments-one using standard

digitalis and the
other using test preparation of digitalis is done .

potency is calculated as
follows:

Conc. of Threshold dose of the

Unknown = Standard X Conc. of
Threshold dose of the Std.
Test
2. Matching and bracketing method
 A constant dose of the standard is bracketed by
varying dose of test sample until an exact matching
between the response of std & that of the sample is
achieved.

 Initially, two responses of the standard are taken.

 The doses are adjusted such that one is giving

response of approximately 20% and other 70%
of the maximum.

 The response of unknown which lies between two

responses of standard dose is taken.
 The panel is repeated by increasing or decreasing
the dose s of
standard till all three equal responses are obtained.

 The dose of test sample is kept constant.

 At the end, a response of the double dose of the

standard and test which match each other are
taken.

 These should give equal responses.

Concentration of the test sample can be
determined as follows:
Conc. of Dose of the Test
X Conc. of
Unknown =
Dose of the Standard Std.
Example: Bioassay of
Histamine on guinea
pig ileum.
3. Graphical method
 This method is based on the assumption of the dose-
response relationship.

 Log-dose-response curve is plotted and the dose of

standard producing the same response as produced
by the test sample is directly read from the graph.

 In simpler design, 5-6 responses of the graded doses

of the standard are taken and then two equiactive
responses of the test sample are taken.

 The height of contraction is measured and plotted

against the log-
dose.
 The characteristic of log-dose response curve is that
it is linear in
the middle (20-80%).

 Thus, the comparison should be done within this

range only. In other words, the response of test
sample must lie within this range.
 Observations and calculation

For standard
Dose Log dose Response % response
(height) (cm)
0.1 -1 0.9 25.71
0.1 -1 0.9 25.71
0.2 -0.69 1.5 42.85
0.4 -0.39 2 57.14
0.6 -0.22 2.8 80
0.8 -0.09 3.5 100
1 0 2.3 65.71

For test
0.1 -1 0.7 20
0.3 -0.52 1.3 37.14
 Maximum response (3.5) is
considered 100% response.
For 0.9,

% response = 0.9 x 100 =

25.71
3.5
% 100
R
E
S
P 50
O
N
S
E
0

Log dose
 Other methods which are based on the dose-
response
relationship include 3 point, 4 point and 6 point methods.

 In these 3 methods, the responses are repeated several

times and the mean of each is taken.

 Thus, chances of error are minimized in these methods.

 In 3 point assay method 2 doses of the standard and one

dose of
the test are used.

 In 4 point method 2 doses of standard and 2 doses of the

test are used. In 6 point method 3 doses of standard and 3
doses of the test are used.

 Similarly one can design 8 point method also.

 The sequence of responses is followed as per the Latin square method
of randomization in order to avoid any bias.

 The mean responses are calculated and plotted against log-dose and amount of
standard producing the same response as produced by the test is determined
graphically as well as mathematically:

n1 T - S1 n2 Cs
Conc. of Unknown = t X antilog S2 - S1 X log n1

n1 = Lower Standard dose

n2 = Higher Standard dose
t = Test dose
S1 = Response of n1
S2 = Response of n2
T = Response of test (t)
Cs = Concentration of standard
Bioassay of histamine by three
point method.
Similarly, in 4 point method, amount of standard producing the same response as
produced by the test can be determined by graphical method. It is determined
mathematically as follows:

n1 (S1 + S2) – (T1 + T2) n2

Conc. Of unk= t1 X antilog (S2 + T2) - (S1 + T1) X log n1

t1 = lower dose of
test t2 = higher
dose of test T1 =
response of t1
T2 = response of
t2.
 Commonly used method for the bioassay of
antagonist is simple graphical method.

 The responses are determined in the form of

the % inhibition of the fixed dose of agonist.

 These are then plotted against the log dose

of the antagonist and the concentration of
unknown is determined by finding out the
amount of standard producing the same
effect as produced by the test.
 In this method, two responses of the same dose of agonist
(sub maximal giving approximately 80% of the maximum
response) are taken.

 The minimum dose of standard antagonist is added in the

bath and then the response of the same dose of agonist is
taken in presence of antagonist.

 The responses of agonist are repeated every 10 mins till

recovery is obtained.

 The higher dose of standard antagonist is added and

responses are taken as before.

 Three to four doses of the standard antagonist are used and

then one to two doses of test sample of the antagonist is
used similarly.
 The percentage inhibition is calculated, plotted
against log dose of antagonist and the
concentration of unknown is determined as usual.
 D-
tubocurarine

Oxytocin Digitalis
 Rabbit Head-drop Method :
Principle: d-Tubocararine hydrochloride is injected into the marginal
vein of a rabbit’s ear till the rabbit’s neck muscles are relaxed such
that the animal cannot hold its head up. The total amount of test
sample required to produce the endpoint is compared with the total
amount of the standard sample required to produce similar
endpoint.

Selection of Rabbits: Rabbits weighing 2 kg. are used. Animals

should be free from disease, obtained from a healthy colony and
should be accustomed with the experimental procedure.
 Experimental Procedure
o Rabbit is placed in a holder with its head protruding
outside.

o The head should be freely movable.

o Minimum 8 rabbits are used.

Rabbit head drop method for the bioassay of d-tubocurarine.

(i) : i.v. inj. of d-tubocurarine. (ii) : Head drop after injection.
o They are divided into two groups each
containing 4 rabbits.

o First group will receive standard sample and

the second group will receive the sample
under test.

o d-Tubocurarine solution is injected at a

constant speed by infusion apparatus through
the marginal vein.

o Injection should be given at a rate of 0.4

ml/min and should take about 10 min. Dose
0.012% w/v in saline.
o Infusion is continued till the rabbit will not be
in a position to hold its head erect or there
will be no response by focusing light on the
eyes.

o Rabbits recover immediately from the effect

of curarization.

o During the experiment there is a possibility of

respiratory embarrassment which is treated
by injecting neostigmine, methyl sulphate
(0.05 mg.) and atropine sulphate immediately
through the marginal ear vein.
o Cross-over test is carried out to minimize
biological error due to animal variation.

o Those rabbits which received the standard

sample on the first day will be given test
sample on the second day of experiment and
vice versa.

o Mean dose which produces head drop of the

test sample is compared with the mean dose
of standard preparation.
Principle: Potency of the test sample si compared with that of the standard
preparation by determining the action on the cardiac muscle.

Standard Preparation and Units: The standard preparation is a mixture of

dried and powdered digitalis leaves (1 unit = 76 mg.)

Preparation of Extracts: Exact amount of the powder is extracted with

dehydrated alcohol in a continuous extraction apparatus for six hours. The
final extract should contain 10 ml. (5 ml. alcohol + 5 ml. water) per 10 g. of
digitalis powder. It should be stored in between 5 oC and –5 oC.
o Minimum 6 pigeons are used for testing each sample.

o The weight of the heaviest pigeon should not

exceed twice the weight of the lightest pigeon.

o Food is withheld 16-28 hours before the

experiment.

o Pigeons are divided on the basis of their sex,

weight and breed, into two groups.
o They are anaesthetized with anesthetic ether.

o One side of the wing is dissected and the alar

vein is cannulated by means of a venous
cannula. Dilutions are made with normal
saline.

o The test sample and standard sample is

infused through cannula.
o In pigeons, stoppage of heart is associated with
a characteristic vomiting response called
‘emesis’.

o The milk from the crop sac of pigeons is being

ejected out. This may be taken as the end point
response of digitalis.

o The lethal dose per kg. of body weight is

determined for each pigeon.

o The potency of the test sample is determined

by dividing the mean lethal dose of standard by
the mean lethal dose of the test sample.
Principle: The potency of oxytocin is
determined by comparing its activity with that
of the Standard Preparation of oxytocin under
the conditions of a suitable method of assay.

Standard Preparation: The Standard

Preparation is the 4th International Standard
for Oxytocin, established in 1978, consisting
of freeze-dried synthetic oxytocin peptide with
human albumin and citric acid (supplied in
ampoules containing 12.5 Units)
o Anaesthetize a young healthy adult cockerel weighing
1.2 to 2.3 kg with an anesthetic that will maintain a
prolonged and constant high blood pressure.

o Expose the gluteus primus muscle in one thigh and cut

and retract it to reveal the popliteal artery and crural
vein.

o Cannulate the popliteal artery and record the blood

pressure.

o Cannulate the crural or brachial vein.

o Prepare standard solution with saline. Inject
0.1-0.5 ml.

o Inject 2 doses of standard solution into

cannulated vein and record blood pressure.

o Dose should cause decrease in B.P.

o Interval between 2 injections is 3-10 mins or

depends on rate at which B.P. comes to
normal.

o Dilute test sample with saline same as

standard one.
o Ratio between standard and test should be
equal.

o If animal become insensitive due to repetitive

doses so another animal is taken.

o Measure all responses and result is calculated

by standard statistical method.