Determination of some aminobenzoic acid derivatives: glafenine and metoclopramide

Simple, sensitive and accurate spectrophotometric methods for the determination of glafenine and metoclopramide hydrochloride are described. The first method is based on the oxidation of glafenine with iodic acid in strong acid medium to give a coloured diphenylbenzidine derivative and subsequent measurement of the coloured product at 509 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 2.5–20 μg ml⁻¹. The second method depends on the interaction of metoclopramide hydrochloride with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde, to give a red coloured schiff's base with an absorbance maximum at 548 nm. Obedience to Beer's law is achieved over the concentration range 5–30 μg ml⁻¹. First-derivative method is used to overcome the slight interference of p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent blank at the wavelength of measurement. Linearity between the peak heights at 576 nm versus concentration range 5–25 μg ml⁻¹ metoclopromide hydrochloride is obtained. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in commercial products without interference. The validity of the methods is assessed by applying the standard addition technique, the relative standard deviation is less than 1%. The proposed methods are compared with reference methods with good agreement.     

Stability-indicating methods for the determination of sumatriptan succinate

Four stability-indicating methods were developed for the determination of sumatriptan succinate in the presence of its degradation products. The first method depends on the quantitative densitometric evaluation of thin-layer chromatography of sumatriptan succinate in the presence of its degradation products without any interference. Cyclohexane–dichloromethane–diethylamine (50:40:10 v/v/v) was used as a mobile phase and the chromatogram was scanned at 228 nm. This method determines sumatriptan succinate in the concentration range l–8 μg per spot with mean percentage recovery 100.52±1.23%. The second and third methods depend on the use of first-derivative (D₁) and second-derivative (D₂) spectrophotometry at 234 and 238 nm, respectively. These methods determine the drug in the concentration range 1.25–10 μg ml⁻¹ with mean percentage recovery 99.91±1.01% and 99.96±1.13% for (D₁) and (D₂), respectively. The fourth method depends on the use of ratio derivative spectrophotometric technique. The amplitude in the first derivative of the ratio spectra at 235 nm was selected to determine the cited drug in the presence of its degradation products. Calibration graph is linear in the concentration range 1.25–10 μg ml⁻¹ with mean percentage recovery 100.19±1.19%. The suggested methods were successfully applied for determining sumatriptan succinate in bulk powder, laboratory-prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical dosage forms (Imigran tablet) with good accuracy and precision. The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the reported method.     

Spectrophotometric determination of oxytetracycline in pharmaceutical preparations using sodium molybdate as analytical reagent

A spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of oxytetracycline in pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on the measurement of the absorbance of the molybdate—oxytetracycline complex at 404 nm (pH 5.50; μ = 0.1 M; 20°C). The composition of the complex (1:1) was determined by the application of the spectrophotometric methods of Job and Bent—French (pH 5.50; λ = 390 nm; μ = 0.1 M). The relative stability constant (K′ = 10^4.6) of the complex was obtained by the methods of Sommer and Nash (pH 5.50; λ = 390 nm; μ = 0.1 M; 20°C). The molar absorptivity of the complex was 9.5 × 10³ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Beer's law was obeyed over the concentration range 2.48–34.78 μg ml⁻¹. The relative standard deviation RSD (n = 10) was 0.27–0.39%. The method proposed can be applied to the assay of oxytetracycline in capsules. The detection limit of oxytetracycline is 2.5 μg ml⁻¹.     

Spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrometric determination of certain cephalosporins

Two sensitive spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrometric procedures are developed for the determination of certain cephalosporins (cefotaxime sodium and cefuroxime sodium). The spectrophotometric methods are based on the charge-transfer complex formation between these drugs as n-donors and 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-quinodimethane (TCNQ) or p-chloranilic acid (p-CA) as π-acceptors to give highly coloured complex species. The coloured products are measured spectrophotometrically at 838 and 529 nm for TCNQ and p-CA, respectively. Beer’s law is obeyed in a concentration range of 7.6–15.2 and 7.1–20.0 μg ml⁻¹ with TCNQ, 95.0-427.5 and 89.0-400.5 μg ml⁻¹ with p-CA for cefotaxime sodium and cefuroxime sodium, respectively. The atomic absorption spectrometric methods are based on the reaction of the above cited drugs after their alkali-hydrolysis with silver nitrate or lead acetate in neutral aqueous medium. The formed precipitates are quantitatively determined directly or indirectly through the silver or lead content of the precipitate formed or the residual unreacted metal in the filtrate by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The optimum conditions for hydrolysis and precipitation have been carefully studied. Beer’s law is obeyed in a concentration range of 1.9–11.4 and 1.78–8.90 μg ml⁻¹ with Ag(I), 14.2–57.0 and 13.3–53.4 μg ml⁻¹ with Pb(II) for cefotaxime sodium and cefuroxime sodium, respectively (for both direct and indirect procedures). The spectrophotometric and the atomic absorption spectrometric procedures hold well their accuracy and precision when applied to the analysis of cefotaxime sodium and cefuroxime sodium dosage forms.     

High performance liquid chromatographic and thin layer densitometric methods for the determination of risperidone in the presence of its degradation products in bulk powder and in tablets

Two reproducible stability indicating methods were developed for the determination of risperidone (RISP) in presence of its degradation products in pure form and in tablets. The first method was based on reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), on Lichrosorb RP C 18 column (250 mm i.d., 4 mm, 10 μm), using methanol:0.05 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate pH 7 (65:35 (v/v)) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 ml min⁻¹ at ambient temperature. Quantification was achieved with UV detection at 280 nm over a concentration range of 25–500 μg ml⁻¹ with mean percentage recovery of 99.87 ± 1.049. The method retained its accuracy in the presence of up to 90% of RISP degradation products. The second method was based on TLC separation of RISP from its degradation products followed by densitometric measurement of the intact drug spot at 280 nm. The separation was carried out on aluminum sheet of silica gel 60F₂₅₄ using acetonitrile:methanol:propanol:triethanolamine (8.5:1.2:0.6:0.2 (v/v/v/v)), as the mobile phase, over a concentration range of 2–10 μg per spot and mean percentage recovery of 100.1 ± 1.18. The two methods were simple, precise, sensitive and could be successfully applied for the determination of pure, laboratory prepared mixtures and tablets. The results obtained were compared with the manufacturer's method.     

Determination of astemizole, terfenadine and flunarizine hydrochloride by ternary complex formation with eosin and lead(II)

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been established for the determination of astemizole(I), terfenadine(II) and flunarizine hydrochloride(III) based on ternary complex formation with eosin and lead(II). The method does not involve solvent extraction. The colour of the produced complex is measured at 547.5 nm for (I) and (III), while (II) is measured at 540.7 nm. Appropriate conditions were established for the colour reaction and for the eosin: Pb(II): drug ratio to obtain maximum sensitivity. Under the proposed conditions, the method is applicable over concentration range of 4.1–37.6, 11.8–47.2 and 2.4–19.1 μg ml⁻¹ with mean percentage recovery of 99.20±0.63, 99.76±0.39 and 99.60±0.47% for (I), (II) and (III), respectively. The suggested method was applied for determination of (I), (II) and (III) in pharmaceutical preparations. Through the use of a non-ionic surfactant (methylcellulose), prior extraction of the drugs was unnecessary. The results obtained demonstrated that the method is equally accurate, precise and reproducible as the official or reported methods. For the purpose of enhancing the sensitivity, a fluorescence quenching method for determination of the studied drugs via ternary complex formation was also investigated. The detection limit for the studied drugs (I), (II) and (III) was 0.94–7.1 μg ml⁻¹ with mean percentage recovery of 99.84±0.29, 99.24±0.36 and 99.34±0.26%, respectively. The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by official or reference methods. Unlike other reported ion-pair techniques, the suggested methods have the advantage of being applicable for the determination of the three drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage forms without prior extraction. They are recommended for quality control and routine analysis where time, cost effectiveness and high specificity of analytical techniques are of great importance.     

Pharmacokinetics of thrombin-like enzyme from venom of Agkistrodon halys ussuriensis Emelianov determined by ELISA in the rat.

A thrombin-like enzyme (TLE) was separated and purified from the venom of a northeast Chinese snake Agkistrodon halys ussuriensis Emelianov. Experiments were performed in rats to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters following an intravenous (i.v.) or a subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of the thrombin-like enzyme. The plasma levels of TLE were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The method exhibited high reproducibility and accuracy in correlating optical densities with TLE concentrations (0.2–30 ng ml⁻¹, r=0.99). The plasma concentration-time course after i.v. administration of 50 μg kg⁻¹ TLE was well fitted by a two-compartment open model. The half-life of the -phase was 18.0±3.2 min, and that of the β-phase 3.9±0.7 h. The apparent volume of distribution was 1.8±0.5 l kg⁻¹, and clearance was 5.4±0.5 ml min⁻¹ kg⁻¹. When the TLE was injected s.c. at a dose of 0.75 mg kg⁻¹, the changes in plasma concentration were best described by a two-compartment model with a first-order absorption. The maximal plasma level of 51±2.7 ng ml⁻¹ was reached at 5.2±0.5 h. The absorption rate constant was 0.3±0.03 h⁻¹. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was 2.8±0.8 μg h⁻¹ ml⁻¹.     

LC determination of dinitrosopiperazine in simulated gastric juice

A simple and specific reversed phase HPLC method for the determination of dinitrosopiperazine in simulated gastric juice using UV detection was reported. The chromatographic resolution of the analyte and the internal standard isosorbide dinitrate was performed without extraction from the gastric juice on a reversed phase ODS column. Isocratic elution was carried out with methanol–0.02 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate (60:40 v/v, pH 3.0) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml min⁻¹ with UV detection at 238 nm. The calibration graph was linear over the concentration range 0.072–2.88 μg ml⁻¹ of dinitrosopiperazine with minimum detectability (S/N=2) of 0.01 μg ml⁻¹ (8×10⁻⁸ M). Inter-day and intra-day precisions calculated as% RSD were in the range 0.32–0.38% and 0.19–0.25% respectively. Inter-day and intra-day accuracies calculated as% error were in the range 0.18–0.21 and 0.08–0.11% respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the study of the possible in–vivo production of DNPZ under the standard nitrosation conditions recommended by WHO.     

Simultaneous separation and determination of active components in Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militarris by LC/ESI-MS

A simple and rapid isocratic LC/MS coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) method for simultaneous separation and determination of adenine, hypoxanthine, adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps sinensis (Cs) and its substitutes was developed. 2-Chloroadenosine was used as internal standard for this assay. The optimum separation for these analytes was achieved using the mixture of water, methanol and formic acid (85:14:1, v/v/v) as a mobile phase and a 2.0×150 mm Shimadzu VP-ODS column. Selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode ([M+H]⁺ at m/z 136, 137, 268, 252 and 302) was used for quantitative analysis of above four active components. The regression equations were liner in the range of 1.4–140.0 μg ml⁻¹ for adenine, 0.6–117.5 μg ml⁻¹ for hypoxanthine, 0.5–128.5 μg ml⁻¹ for adenosine and 0.5–131.5 μg ml⁻¹ for cordycepin. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) and detection (LOD) were, respectively 1.4 and 0.5 μg ml⁻¹ for adenine, 0.6 and 0.2 μg ml⁻¹ for hypoxanthine, 0.5 and 0.1 μg ml⁻¹ for adenosine and cordycepin. The recoveries of four constituents were from 93.5 to 107.0%. The nucleoside contents of various types of natural Cs and its substitutes were determined and compared with this developed method.     

Simultaneous determination of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets by first-derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry and LC

First-derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to determine valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide simultaneously in combined pharmaceutical dosage forms. The derivative procedure was based on the linear relationship between the drug concentration and the first derivative amplitudes at 270.6 and 335 nm for valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 12.0–36.1 μg ml⁻¹ for valsartan and 4.0–12.1 μg ml⁻¹ for hydrochlorothiazide. Furthermore, a high- performance liquid chromatographic procedure with ultraviolet detection at 225 nm was developed for a comparison method. For the HPLC procedure, a reversed phase column with a mobile phase of 0.02 M phosphate buffer (pH 3.2)-acetonitrile (55: 45; v/v), was used to separate for valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. The plot of peak area ratio of each drug to the internal standard versus the respective concentrations of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide were found to be linear in the range of 0.06–1.8 and 0.07–0.5 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in laboratory-prepared mixtures and commercial tablets.     

Oxidation of adrenaline and noradrenaline by solved molecular oxygen in a FIA assembly

A simple and effective procedure is proposed for the study and simultaneous determination of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The fluorimetric determination of both substances is performed in a flow injection assembly and by oxidation of both drugs with the solved molecular oxygen. The influence of different parameters is empirically studied and the interpretation of the reaction mechanism is also added. The determination of adrenaline is monitored at 450 nm and the outputs at 520 nm correspond to the adrenaline and noradrenaline global amount; for both lectures λ_exc 329 nm. The influence of temperature is relevant and analytical determination occurred at 55 °C by immersing the sample loop in a water bath. The linear range for adrenaline is over 0.5–20 μg ml⁻¹, limit of detection for both compounds is 0.2 μg ml⁻¹: the influence of foreign compounds as potential interferents is also tested; and, finally the procedure is applied to determination of both chatecolamines in synthetic samples.     

Simultaneous LC determination of paracetamol and related compounds in pharmaceutical formulations using a carbon-based column

A simple, rapid and convenient high performance liquid chromatographic method, which permits the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, 4-aminophenol and 4-chloracetanilide in pharmaceutical preparation has been developed. The chromatographic separation was achieved on porous graphitized carbon (PGC) column using an isocratic mixture of 80/20 (v/v) acetonitrile/0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 5.5) and ultraviolet detection at 244 nm. Correlation coefficient for calibration curves in the ranges 1–50 μg ml⁻¹ for paracetamol and 5–40 μg ml⁻¹ for 4-aminophenol and 4-chloroacetanilide were >0.99. The sensitivity of detection is 0.1 μg ml⁻¹ for paracetamol and 0.5 μg ml⁻¹ for 4-aminophenol and 4-chloroacetanilide. The proposed liquid chromatographic method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercially available paracetamol dosage forms with recoveries of 98–103%. It is suggested that the proposed method should be used for routine quality control and dosage form assay of paracetamol in pharmaceutical preparations. The chromatographic behaviour of the three compounds was examined under variable mobile phase compositions and pH, the results revealed that selectivity was dependent on the organic solvent and pH used. The retention selectivity of these compounds on PGC was compared with those of octadecylsilica (ODS) packing materials in reversed phase liquid chromatography. The ODS column gave little separation for the degradation product (4-aminophenol) from paracetamol, whereas PGC column provides better separation in much shorter time.     

Spectrophotometric determination of pefloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations

It has been established that the antibiotic pefloxacin (Abaktal) methane-sulphonate reacts with Fe(III) at pH 1.00–8.00 to form a water-soluble complex with maximum absorbance at 360 nm. The composition of the complex, determined spectrophotometrically by the application of Job's, molar-ratio and Bent—French's methods, was pefloxacin: Fe(III) = 1:1 (pH = 2.50; λ = 360 nm; μ = 0.1 M). The relative stability constant, obtained by the methods of Sommer and Asmus was 10^5.02 (pH = 2.50; λ = 360 nm; μ = 0.1 M). The molar absorptivity of the complex at 360 nm was found to be 4.8 × 10³ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, Beer's law was followed for pefloxacin concentrations of 2.15–85.88 μg ml⁻¹. The lower sensitivity limit of the method was 2.15 μg ml⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (n = 10) was 0.57–1.07%. The method can be applied to the rapid and simple determination of pefloxacin in aqueous solutions and tablets.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of phenolic β-lactam antibiotics

Two simple and selective spectrophotometric methods were developed for the quantitative determination of cefoperazone sodium, cefadroxil monohydrate, cefprozil anhydrous and amoxicillin trihydrate in pure forms as well as in their pharmaceutical formulations. The methods are based on the selective oxidation of these drugs with either Ce (IV) or Fe (III) in acid medium to give an intense yellow coloured product (λ_max=397 nm). The reaction conditions were studied and optimized. Beer's plots were obeyed in a general concentration range of 5–30 μg ml⁻¹ with correlation coefficients not less than 0.9979 for the four drugs with the two reagents. The methods are successfully applied to the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations containing amoxicillin, either alone or in combination with potassium clavulanate, flucloxacillin or dicloxacillin. They were also applied to the analysis of the other three studied drugs in vials, capsules, tablets and suspensions with good recovery; percent ranged from 99.7 (±0.46) to 100.32 (±1.05) in the Ce (IV) method and 99.6 (±0.50) to 100.3 (±1.32) in the Fe (III) method. Interferences from other antibiotics and additives products were investigated.     

2,6-Dichloroquinone chlorimide and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane reagents for the spectrophotometric determination of salbutamol in pure and dosage forms

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of sulbutamol in pure form and in different pharmaceutical preparations has been developed. The charge transfer (CT) reaction between salbutamol as electron donor and 2,6-dichloroquinone chlorimide (DCQ) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) as a π-electron acceptor have been spectrophotometrically studied. The optimum experimental conditions for these CT reactions have been studied carefully. Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range of 1.0–30.0 μg ml⁻¹ and 2.0–20.0 μg ml⁻¹ for salbutamol using DCQ and TCNQ, respectively. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration range is calculated and found to be 10.0 to 30.0 and 8.0 to 20 μg ml⁻¹ for salbutamol using DCQ and TCNQ, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity is found to be 0.011 and 0.010 g cm⁻² for salbutamol using DCQ and TCNQ, respectively, which indicate the high sensitivity of the proposed methods. Relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) of 0.27 to 0.68% and 0.20 to 1.40% (n=5) were obtained for five replicates of salbutamol using DCQ and TCNQ, respectively. The results obtained by the two reagents are comparable with those obtained by British pharmacopoeia assay for the determination of salbutamol in raw materials and in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Flow-injection biamperometric determination of epinephrine

A flow-injection manifold is proposed for the determination of epinephrine. The experimental procedure is based on the indirect biamperometric detection of the drug by using Fe(III)-Fe(II) as an indicating redox system and a flow-through detector with two polarized Pt wire electrodes. The calibration graph is linear over the range 0.3–20 μg ml⁻¹ of epinephrine. The relative standard deviation for the determination of 10 μg ml⁻¹ of epinephrine is 1.5% (n = 25) and the sample throughput is 153 h⁻¹. The method was applied to the determination of epinephrine in two commercially available pharmaceutical preparations.     

Development and validation of two chromatographic methods for the quantification of E-6087 and one of its metabolites, E-6132, in rat plasma

E-6087 is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compound under development that selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase-2. In vitro studies have shown that one of its metabolites, E-6132, also inhibits this enzyme. Due to chromatographic reasons, two reverse phase HPLC methods were developed and validated in order to elucidate which compound is responsible for the pharmacological activity in vivo. Chromatographic separation of E-6087 was achieved using acetonitrile–phosphate buffer (pH 2.5; 25 mM) (60:40, v/v) as mobile phase and two 4.6×150 mm×5 μm Inertsil ODS-2 columns. For E-6132, two Inertsil ODS-3 columns and 52% of acetonitrile were used instead. Internal standards and fluorescence detection differed between both methods. The same on-line solid-phase extraction method was used. Mean retention times for E-6087 and E-6132 were 15.2 (±1.3) and 36.1 (±0.6) min, respectively. The methods were selective and linear over the concentration range of 10–500 ng ml⁻¹ (r²>0.996) for E-6087 and 5–200 ng ml⁻¹ (r²>0.997) for E-6132. The limits of quantitation were 10 ng ml⁻¹ (E-6087) and 5 ng ml⁻¹ (E-6132) with a precision and accuracy <16% (E-6087) and <11% (E-6132). Mean recoveries from plasma were 43.2–61.9% (E-6087) and 60.4–65.2% (E-6132). For both compounds, both inter-assay and intra-assay precision and accuracy were within acceptable limits (<15%). As an example of the suitability of these methods, the results from a pharmacokinetic study are reported. After single oral administration of 5 mg kg⁻¹ of E-6087 to rats, plasma concentrations of E-6087 at peak time were higher than those of E-6132, suggesting that activity is mainly due to E-6087.     

Simultaneous determination of fosinopril and hydrochlorothiazide in pharmaceutical formulations by spectrophotometric methods

Three new spectrophotometric procedures for the simultaneous determination of fosinopril and hydrochlorothiazide are described. The first method, derivative-differential spectrophotometry, comprised of measurement of the difference absorptivities derivatized in the first-order (ΔD₁) of a tablet extract in 0.1 N NaOH relative to that of an equimolar solution in methanol at wavelengths of 227.6 and 276.4 nm, respectively. The second method, depends on the application ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometric method to resolve the interferance due to spectral overlapping. The analytical signals were measured at 237.9, 243.8 nm for fosinopril and 262.4, 269.3 and 278.6 nm for hydrochlorothiazide in the binary mixture, in the first derivative of the ratio spectra of the mixture solutions in methanol. Calibration graphs were established for 4.0–50.0 μg ml⁻¹ fosinopril and 2.0–14.0 μg ml⁻¹ hydrochlorothiazide in binary mixture. The third method, absorbance ratio method, the determination of fosinopril and hydrochlorothiazide was performed by using the absorbances read at 210.0, 219.5 and 271.7 nm in the zero-order spectra of their mixture. The developed methods were compared with absorbance ratio method. Application of the suggested procedures were successfully applied to the determination of this compound in synthetic mixtures and in pharmaceutical preparations, with high percentage of recovery, good accuracy and precision.     

A capillary GC-MS method for analysis of phenytoin and [C3]-phenytoin from plasma obtained from pulse dose pharmacokinetic studies

Stable isotope analogues of phenytoin are useful for pulse dose pharmacokinetic studies in epilepsy patients. A simultaneous assay was developed to quantitate phenytoin (5,5-diphenylhydantoin) and its stable isotope analogue [¹³C₃]-phenytoin (5,5-diphenyl-2,4,5-¹³C₃-hydantoin) from plasma. Quantitation was achieved by GC-MS analysis of liquid/liquid extracted plasma samples, with [²H₁₀]-phenytoin (5,5-di(pentadeuterophenyl)-hydantoin) as an internal standard. The total coefficients of variance (C.V._t) were <7% for phenytoin (2.5–40 μg ml⁻¹) and <10.3% for [¹³C₃]-phenytoin (0.1–6.0 μg ml⁻¹). The accuracy of the assay varied from 87.8–100.1% (phenytoin, 2.5–40 μg ml⁻¹) and 89.6–116.3% ([¹³C₃]-phenytoin, 0.02–6.0 μg ml⁻¹). The assay was tested under in vivo conditions by administration of a pulse dose of the stable isotope analogue to a single rat dosed to steady-state with fosphenytoin, a phenytoin prodrug. The results of the in vivo experiment demonstrate the usefulness of this assay for future pharmacokinetic studies in special population epilepsy patients.     

Determination of cisapride, its oxidation product, propyl and butyl parabens in pharmaceutical dosage form by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for cisapride, its oxidation product (OP), propyl and butyl parabens in a pharmaceutical formulation is described. Chromatography was performed at room temperature by pumping acetonitrile–20 mM phosphate buffer pH 7 (50:50, v/v) at 1.5 ml min⁻¹ through C₈ reversed-phase column. Cisapride, OP, propyl and butyl parabens were detected at 276 nm and were eluted at 9.7, 3.1, 5.1 and 7.1 min, respectively. Calibration plots were linear (r>0.999) for all compounds from 0.5 to 200 μg ml⁻¹ for cisapride and OP and 0.1–200 μg ml⁻¹ for propyl and butyl parabens. Detection limits for cisapride, OP, propyl and butyl parabens were 40, 46, 48 and 54 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. Forced degradation investigations showed that cisapride does not undergo degradation under heat, acidic and basic conditions but it was susceptible to oxidation. The proposed method was successfully applied to the assay of cisapride in the presence of preservatives and OP in a commercial suspension.