Extractive spectrophotometric methods for the assay of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations

Two simple and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of sildenafil citrate (SC) are proposed. The methods are based on the formation of ion-association complexes of sildenafil citrate with bromocresol green (BCG, method A) and with chromoxane cyanine R (CCR, method B) in aqueous acidic buffer. The complex species, extractable to chloroform phase, were quantitatively measured at 415 and 460 nm for methods A and B, respectively. Beer's law was obeyed in the SC concentration range 1.25-25 mug ml(-1) with a limit of detection 0.16 mug ml(-1) and 1.5-60 mug ml(-1) with a limit of detection 0.18 mug ml(-1), respectively, for methods A and B. The methods have been successfully applied to the analysis of bulk drug and its tablets. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvants.