Potentiometric detection of amines in ion chromatography using macrocycle-based liquid membrane electrodes

Potentiometric detection employing solid-state electrodes was applied to the determination of organic amines in cation-exchange, and in ion-interaction chromatography. The amines included nine industrial alkylamines, the biogenic amines putrescine and cadaverine, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and choline. Three PVC-based liquid membrane electrode coatings were used, incorporating respectively the lipophilic cation-exchanger tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate, a combination of tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate and dibenzo-18-crown-6, or a combination of tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate and a calix[6]arene. The three solid-state electrodes allowed sensitive detection of all amines. The addition of macrocycles with molecular recognition properties resulted in a superior sensitivity when compared to the tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate-based electrode. The effect was most significant for the smaller amines which form the most stable complexes with the macrocycles. Detection limits of the order of 10⁻⁶ M (injected concentration) were measured for mono- and diamines for the macrocycle-based electrodes.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of ranitidine and nizatidine in pharmaceuticals

An accurate and simple kinetic method is described for the determination of ranitidine and nizatidine in pure form and in pharmaceuticals. The method is based on the reaction of the compounds with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole in pH 7.4 borate buffer at 60 degrees C for a fixed time of 25 min for both compounds. The absorbance of the reaction product is measured at 495 nm for ranitidine and nizatidine. Calibration graphs were linear over the concentration range of 2-20 microg/mL, with limits of detection of 0.13 (3.7 x 10(-7) M) and 0.25 microg/mL (7.5 x 10(-7) M) for ranitidine and nizatidine, respectively. The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of ranitidine in tablets and ampoules with average recoveries of 100.26+/-0.69 and 100.29+/-0.59%, respectively, and to the determination of nizatidine in capsules with an average recovery of 104.26+/-0.44%. The results obtained are in good agreement with those obtained by the other methods used for comparison. A proposal of the reaction pathway is also presented.     

Construction and performance characteristics of new fentanyl-selective plastic membrane electrode.

The construction and performance characteristics of an ion-selective electrode for fentanyl-drug cation, based on an ion-pair complex with tetrakis[3,5-bis-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate anion in a PVC matrix were studied. A linear response for 1 x 10(-5) mol dm-3 to 1 x 10(-2) mol dm-3 drug with a slope of 57.9 +/- 0.5 mV/decade was established. The optimum pH range was 2 to 6. The lower detection limit was 6.29 x 10(-6) mol dm-3 fentanyl citrate (2.1165 micrograms cm-3 fentanyl). There were negligible interferences from a number of inorganic cations, structural analogues, and some common drug additives in injections. The electrode proposed has been successfully applied to determine fentanyl citrate in injections. The results correlated well with those obtained by the United States Pharmacopoeia standard procedure.     

Synthesis, characterization, and complexation of tetraarylborates with aromatic cations and their use in chemical sensors

Five aromatic borate anions, namely tetrakis(4-phenoxyphenyl)borate (1), tetrakis(biphenyl)borate (2), tetrakis(2-naphthyl)borate (3), tetrakis(4-phenylphenol)borate (4), and tetrakis(4-phenoxy)borate (5), have been prepared and tested as ion-recognition sites in chemical sensors for certain aromatic cations and metal ions. To gain further insight into the complexation of the cations, some complexes have been prepared and structurally characterized. The complexation behavior of 1 and 2 towards N-methylpyridinium (6), 1-ethyl-4-(methoxycarbonyl)pyridinium (7), tropylium (8), imidazolium (9), and 1-methylimidazolium (10) cations has been studied, and the stability constants of the complexes of 1 with cations 6 and 8 have been measured to compare them with the values for the previously studied complexes of tetraphenylborate. The structures of the borate anions and their complexes have been characterized by NMR and mass spectrometric methods. X-ray crystal structures have been determined for potassium tetrakis(4-phenoxyphenyl)borate (K(+)1), N-methylpyridinium tetrakis(4-phenoxyphenyl)borate (61), 1-ethyl-4-(methoxycarbonyl)pyridinium tetrakis(4-phenoxyphenyl)borate (71), tropylium tetrakis(4-phenoxyphenyl)borate (81), and imidazolium tetrakis(biphenyl)borate (92). The results show that borate derivatives are potential candidates for a completely new family of charged carriers for use in cation-selective electrodes.     

Miniaturized membrane sensors for the determination of rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate

Novel miniaturized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane sensors in all-solid state graphite and platinum wire supports were developed, electrochemically evaluated and used for the assay of rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate drug (RIV). The RIV sensors are based on the formation of an ion-association complex between the drug cation and tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate (TpClPB) anionic exchanger as electroactive material dispersed in a PVC matrix. Linear responses of 10(-2) - 10(-5) M and 10(-2) - 10(-4) M with cationic slopes of 56.4 mV and 53.6 mV over the pH range 4 - 7 were obtained by using the RIV-coated graphite (sensor 1) and platinum wire (sensor 2) membrane sensors, respectively. The proposed method displays useful analytical characteristics for the determination of RIV in Exelon capsules with average recoveries of 100.01+/-0.835, 100.09+/-0.896, and in plasma with average recoveries of 99.47+/-0.97, 99.58+/-0.82, and in rat brain homogenate with average recoveries of 98.16+/-1.62, 99.02+/-1.57, for sensors 1 and 2, respectively. The methods were also used to determine the intact drug in the presence of its degradation product and thus could be used as stability indicating methods. The results obtained by the proposed procedures were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by using a reported method. No significant difference for both accuracy and precision was observed.     

A simple approach for fabricating solid-contact ion-selective electrodes using nanomaterials as transducers

A simple and robust approach for the development of solid-state ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) using nanomaterials as solid contacts is described. The electrodes are fabricated by using the mixture of an ionic liquid (IL) and a nanomaterial as intermediate layer, formed by melting the IL. Tetradodecylammonium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate (ETH 500) is chosen as an model of IL to provide strong adhesion between the inner glassy carbon electrode and the intermediate layer. Nanomaterials including single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and graphene were used as active ion-to-electron transducers between the glassy carbon electrode and the ionophore-doped ISE membrane. By using the proposed approach, the solid-contact Cu²⁺- and Pb²⁺-selective electrodes based on ETH 500/SWCNTs and ETH 500/graphene as transducers, respectively, have been fabricated. The proposed electrodes show detection limits in the nanomolar range and exhibit a good response time and excellent stability.     

Spectrophotometric determination of acyclovir and ribavirin in their dosage forms

Two simple, accurate, and reliable spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of 2 antiviral drugs, acyclovir (ACV) and ribavirin (RBV), in their pharmaceutical formulations. These methods are based on oxidation of the 2 drugs with either cerium (IV) ammonium sulfate (Method A) or potassium persulfate (Method B). The products of oxidation in both methods are coupled with 3-methylbenzothiazolin 2-one hydrazone, producing a deep blue color with a maximum absorption wavelength at 630 nm. In Method A, the absorbance-concentration plots were linear over the ranges of 5-50 and 10-60 microg/mL with detection limits of 0.18 microg/mL (8 x 10(-7) M) and 0.63 microg/mL (2.58 x 10(-6) M) for ACV and RBV, respectively. In Method B, the ranges were 5-45 and 20-50 microg/mL with detection limits of 0.11 microg/mL (4.88 x 10(-7) M) and 1.40 microg/mL (5.73 x 10(-6) M) for the 2 drugs, respectively. The molar absorptivities were 4.1 x 10(3) and 3.65 x 10(3) L/mol/cm in Method A and 5.03 x 10(3) and 3.97 x 10(3) L/mol/cm in Method B for the 2 drugs, respectively. The proposed methods were applied successfully for the determination of the 2 drugs in their pharmaceutical formulations. The percentage recoveries +/- standard deviation were 99.57 +/- 0.86 and 100.82 +/- 0.46 for ACV; 99.41 +/- 1.08 and 100.35 +/- 1.03 for RBV. The results obtained were compared statistically with those given by official methods and showed no significant differences regarding accuracy and precision.     

Simultaneous determination of hyoscine butylbromide and ketoprofen in pharmaceutical preparations by spectrophotometric and liquid chromatographic methods

A binary mixture of hyoscine butylbromide and ketoprofen was determined by 4 different methods. The first involved determination of hyoscine butylbromide and ketoprofen using the ratio-spectra first-derivative spectrophotometric technique at 211 and 234 nm over the concentration ranges of 2-14 and 5-45 microg/mL with mean accuracies 99.84 +/-0.92 and 99.98+/- 0.64%, respectively. The second method utilized second-derivative spectrophotometry over the concentration ranges of 2-14 and 5-35 microg/mL with mean accuracies 99.32+/- 1.06 and 99.55+/-1.15%, respectively. The third method was based on the resolution of the 2 components by bivariate calibration depending on a simple and rapid mathematical algorithm and quantitative evaluation of the absorbances at 206 and 254 nm over concentration ranges of 2-16 and 5-35 microg/mL; mean accuracies of 100.21+/-1.30 and 100.19 +/-1.07% were obtained for hyoscine butylbromide and ketoprofen, respectively. The fourth method was reversed-phase liquid chromatography using 0.05 M ammonium dihydrogen phosphate-acetonitrile-methanol (20 + 30 + 6, v/v) as the mobile phase with ultraviolet detection at 220 nm over concentration ranges of 1-90 and 5-70 microg/mL; mean accuracies were 99.92+/-1.02 and 99.61+/- 0.98%, respectively. The suggested procedures were checked using laboratory-prepared mixtures and were successfully applied for the analysis of pharmaceutical preparations. The methods retained their accuracy and precision when the standard addition technique was applied. The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the manufacturer's method.     

Tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate as a new class of neutral carrier responsive to lead ion

Tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate and diphenylphosphinic anhydride, with two phosphoryl groups (PO) as ligating sites, can be used as novel ionophores to make Pb(2+)-selective membrane electrodes. A good result was obtained with tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate, and the electrode based on this ionophore and bis(1-butylpentyl) adipate as a solvent mediator in a poly(vinyl chloride) membrane matrix exhibited a near-Nernstian response to Pb(2+) in the concentration range of 1x10(-5)-1x10(-2) M with a slope of 28.7 mV per concentration decade in a solution containing 0.1 M Mg(NO(3))(2). The limit of detection was 3x10(-6) M. The selectivity of this electrode to other metal cations was comparable to the best case in many Pb(2+)-selective electrodes so far developed. Addition of potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (40 mol% relative to tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate) caused a drastic change in the response slope (53.3 mV per concentration decade), probably due to the formation of PbA(+), where A stands for anions present in the sample solution, and decreased significantly the electrode selectivity to other metal cations.     

Amino acid analysis using amine-sensitive membrane electrodes

A method for determining specific amino acids is described, based on the detection of the amine formed by the enzymatic reaction of an amino acid with decarboxylase, using an amine-sensitive membrane electrode. l-Tyrosine and l-phenylalanine are considered as examples. The corresponding amines tyramine and phenethylamine, respectively, were selectively detected by using a poly(vinyl chloride)-based membrane electrode containing sodium tetrakis[3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate as an ion exchanger and tricresyl phosphate as a solvent mediator. The detection limits of l-tyrosine and l-phenylalanine were 20 and 50μM, respectively. The response characteristics of electrodes were compared by changing ion exchangers and solvent mediators.     

Studies on bis(crown ether)-based ion-selective electrodes for the potentiometric determination of sodium and potassium in serum

Bis(crown ether)-based ion-selective electrodes for sodium and potassium are described, based on the bis[(12-crown-4)-2-ylmethyl]-2-dodecyl-2-methyl malonate sensor(I) for sodium and the bis[(benzo-15-crown-5)-15-ylmethyl] pimelate sensor(II) for potassium. The best results were obtained when the sensors were used in association with 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether as plasticising solvent mediator and potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate as anion excluder in poly(vinyl chloride) matrices. Electrode slopes were near-Nernstian, with detection limits of less than 10(-5) M. The electrode features are compared with those of a sodium glass membrane electrode, for sensor I, and with a valinomycin-based potassium electrode, for sensor II. The electrodes are also discussed in relation to others reported for sensors I and II and are shown to be superior. However, although the electrodes described offer promising alternatives to glass electrodes for sodium and valinomycin electrodes for potassium, data for sodium and potassium measurements in blood serum indicate a need for further research in order to improve the correlation with flame photometric measurements.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of vigabatrin and gabapentin in dosage forms and spiked plasma samples through derivatization with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole

A highly sensitive and specific method is proposed for the determination of vigabatrin (I) and gabapentin (II) in their dosage forms and spiked human plasma. The method is based on coupling the drugs with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole in borate buffer at pH 7.1 and measuring the resulting fluorescence at 532 nm after excitation at 465 nm. The fluorescence intensity was a linear function of the concentration of the drugs over the ranges of 1.3-6.5 and 1.7-8.5 microg/mL for I and II, respectively. Minimum detectability values were 0.54 microg/mL (4.2 x 10(-6)M) and 0.97 microg/mL (5.7 x 10(-6)M) for I and II, respectively, under the described conditions. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the 2 drugs in their dosage forms, and the percent recoveries +/- standard deviation (SD) were 104.53 +/- 1.2 and 100.00 +/- 1.32 of the label claim for I and II, respectively. The method was further applied to the determination of vigabatrin in spiked plasma samples. The percent recovery +/- SD was 101.58 +/- 2.68. Interference from endogenous alpha-amino acids was overcome through selective complexation with freshly prepared Cu(OH)2. The interference likely to be encountered from co-administered drugs, such as carbamazepine, cimetidine, clonazepam, clopazam, phenobarbital, valproic acid, and lamotrigine, was also studied. A reaction pathway is suggested.     

Voltammetric determination of benazepril and ramipril in dosage forms and biological fluids through nitrosation

A simple and highly sensitive voltammetric method was developed for the determination of benazepril (I) and ramipril (II). The compounds were treated with nitrous acid, and the cathodic current produced by the resulting nitroso derivatives was measured. The voltammetric behavior was studied by adopting direct current (DCt), differential pulse (DPP), and alternating current (ACt) polarography. Both compounds produced well-defined, diffusion-controlled cathodic waves over the whole pH range in Britton-Robinson buffers (BRb). At pH 3 and 5, the values of diffusion-current constants (Id), were 5.90 +/- 0.40 and 6.66 +/- 0.61 for I and II, respectively. The current concentration plots for I were rectilinear over the range of 1.5-40 and 0.1-30 microg/mL in the DCt and DPP modes, respectively; for II, the range was 2-30 and 0.1-20 microg/mL in the DCt and DPP modes, respectively. The minimum detectabilities (S/N = 2) were 0.015 microg/mL (about 3.25 x 10(-8)M) and 0.012 microg/mL (about 2.88 x 10(-8)M) for I and II, respectively, adopting the DPP mode. Results obtained for the proposed method when applied to the determination of both compounds in dosage forms were in good agreement with those obtained using reference methods. Hydrochlorthiazide, which is frequently co-formulated with these drugs, did not interfere with the assay. The method was also applied to the determination of benazepril in spiked human urine and plasma. The percentage recoveries adopting the DPP mode were 96.2 +/- 1.21 and 95.7 +/- 1.61, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of piracetam and vincamine by spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods

A mixture of piracetam and vincamine was determined by 3 different methods. The first was the determination of piracetam and vincamine using the ratio-spectra first-derivative (DD1) spectrophotometric technique at 209 and 293 nm in concentration ranges of 10-45 and 2-14 microg/mL with mean recoveries of 99.22 +/- 0.72 and 99.67 +/- 0.79%, respectively. The second method was based on the resolution of the 2 components by bivariate calibration depending on a mathematic algorithm that provides simplicity and rapidity. The method depended on quantitative evaluation of the absorbencies at 210 and 225 nm in concentration ranges of 5-45 and 2-14 microg/mL, with mean recoveries of 100.33 +/- 0.54 and 100.44 +/- 0.98% for piracetam and vincamine, respectively. The third method was reversed-phase liquid chromatography using 0.05 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate-methanol (50 + 50, v/v) as the mobile phase, with the pH adjusted to 3.5 with phosphoric acid. The eluent was monitored at 215 nm in concentration ranges of 5-100 and 2-200 microg/mL, with mean recoveries of 99.62 +/- 0.67 and 99.32 +/- 0.85% for piracetam and vincamine, respectively. The suggested procedures were checked using laboratory-prepared mixtures and were successfully applied for the analysis of their pharmaceutical preparation. The methods retained their accuracy and precision when applying the standard addition technique. The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the manufacturer's method.     

Determination of magnesium in foods by single-sweep polarography

In KOH, the Mg(II)-bromopyrogallol red (BPR) complex produced a very sensitive polarographic wave at -1.30 V. The wave height was linear with the concentration of Mg(II) in the range of 0.05 to 2 microg/mL. The detection limit was 0.01 microg/mL. The electrochemical behavior of Mg(II)-BPR was studied by electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods. Experiments proved that the polarographic wave of Mg(II)-BPR was due to the reduction of BPR in the Mg(II)-BPR complex. The method, which was sensitive, selective, and simple to perform, was used to determine magnesium in foods, and the results were consistent with those obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy.     

New methods for determination of cinnarizine in mixture with piracetam by spectrodensitometry, spectrophotometry, and liquid chromatography

Four new methods were developed and validated for the determination of cinnarizine HCl in its binary mixture with piracetam in pure and pharmaceutical preparations. The first one was a densitometric analysis that provides a simple and rapid method for the separation and quantification of cinnarizine HCI. The method depends on the quantitative densitometric evaluation of thin-layer chromatograms of cinnarizine HCI at 252 nm over concentration range of 1-6 microg/spot, with a mean accuracy of 100.05 +/- 0.91%. The second method was determination of the drug using a colorimetric method that utilizes the reaction of 3-methyl-benzothiazolin-2-one in the presence of FeCl3 as an oxidant. The green color of the resulting product was measured at 630 nm over concentration range 10-40 microg/mL, with a mean accuracy of 100.10 +/- 1.13%. The third method was a direct spectrophotometric determination of cinnarizine HCI at 252 nm over the concentration range 7-20 microg/mL, while piracetam was determined by derivative ratio spectrophotometry at 221.6 nm over concentration range 5-30 microg/mL, with a mean accuracy of 100.14 +/- 0.79 and 100.26 +/- 1.24% for cinnarizine HCI and piracetam, respectively. The last method was a liquid chromatography analysis of both cinnarizine HCI and piracetam, depending on quantitative evaluation of chromatograms of cinnarizine HCI and piracetam at 252 and 212 nm, respectively, over the concentration range 10-200 microg/mL for cinnarizine HCI and 20-500 microg/mL for piracetam, with a mean accuracy of 100.03 +/- 0.89 and 100.40 +/- 0.94% for cinnarizine HCI and piracetam, respectively. The proposed procedures were checked using laboratory-prepared mixtures and successfully applied for the analysis of their pharmaceutical preparations. The validity of the proposed procedures was further assessed by applying the standard addition technique. Recoveries were quantitative, and the results obtained agreed with those obtained by other reported methods.     

Spectrofluorometric determination of fluvoxamine in dosage forms, spiked plasma, and real human plasma by derivatization with fluorescamine

A sensitive, simple, and selective spectrofluorometric method was developed for the determination of fluvoxamine (FXM) in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids. The method is based upon the reaction between the drug and fluorescamine in borate buffer of pH 8.0 to yield a highly fluorescent derivative that is measured at 481 nm after excitation at 383 nm. The different experimental parameters affecting the development and stability of the reaction product were carefully studied and optimized. The method was applied for the determination of the drug over the concentration range of 0.1-1.1 microg/mL with a detection limit of 0.01 microg/mL (2 x 10(-8) M). The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tablets. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using a reported spectrophotometric method. The method was applied for the determination of FXM in spiked human plasma with recovery (n=4) of 97.32 +/- 1.23%, while that in real human plasma (n=3) was 90.79 +/- 2.73%. A proposal for the reaction pathway is presented.     

Simultaneous determination of bioactive flavone derivatives in Chinese herb extraction by capillary electrophoresis used different electrolyte systems--borate and ionic liquids

In this paper, novel capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods, which used ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoium tetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoium tetrafluoroborate), were established to separate and determine some bioactive flavone derivatives in Chinese herb Seriphidium santolinum (Schrenk) Poljak. In order to investigate the traits of ionic liquids in CE, borate was also used as electrolyte to compare with. And the excellence of CE, which used ionic liquids as main running electrolyte and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) as modifier, was illuminated as well. As a result of the study, the difference of ionic liquids and borate in CE was discussed and the advantage of CE, which used ionic liquids as electrolytes for separation, was shown. The analysis was obtained within short time (5-6 min). From the result, it was found that the system, which used ionic liquids, was robust because the joule heating was small. The method of CE, which used ionic liquids, has lower detection limits (0.137-0.642 microg/mL) than that of borate (0.762-1.036 microg/mL). And the CE, which used ionic liquids method, has lower limit of linear range (1.100-2.656 microg/mL), while that of CE, which used borate method, was 2.188-5.313 microg/mL.     

Spectrophotometric determination of four macrolide antibiotics in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids via binary complex formation with eosin [corrected

A simple, rapid, and sensitive validated spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of certain macrolide antibiotics namely, erythromycin (I), azithromycin dihydrate (II), clarithromycin (III), and roxithromycin (IV) in bulk powders, pharmaceutical formulations, and spiked biological fluids. The proposed method is based on the formation of a binary complex between each of the studied drugs and eosin Y in aqueous buffered medium. Under the optimum conditions, the binary complexes showed absorption maxima at 542-544 nm. The absorbance of the binary complexes obeyed Beer's law over the concentration range of 1-10 micro/g/mL for II, 2-20 microg/mL for I and IV, and 3-30 microg/mL for III. The mean percentage recoveries were 100.04 +/- 0.83, 99.98 +/- 0.80, 100.17 +/- 0.91, and 99.55 +/- 0.91, with minimum detectable molarities of 2 x 10(-7) for I and II, 4 x 10(-7) for III, and 3 x 10(-7) for IV. The different experimental parameters affecting the development and stability of the colors were studied and optimized. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of the cited drugs in some pharmaceutical formulations. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using the reference methods. The proposed method was further applied to spiked human urine and plasma. A proposal of the reaction pathway is suggested.     

Determination of nifuroxazide and drotaverine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations by three independent analytical methods

Three new, different, simple, sensitive, and accurate methods were developed for quantitative determination of nifuroxazide (I) and drotaverine hydrochloride (II) in a binary mixture. The first method was spectrophotometry, which allowed determination of I in the presence of II using a zero-order spectrum with an analytically useful maximum at 364.5 nm that obeyed Beer's law over a concentration range of 2-10 microg/mL with mean percentage recovery of 100.08 +/- 0.61. Determination of II in presence of I was obtained by second derivative spectrophotometry at 243.6 nm, which obeyed Beer's law over a concentration range of 2-10 microg/mL with mean recovery of 99.82 +/- 1.46%. The second method was spectrodensitometry, with which both drugs were separated on a silica gel plate using chloroform-acetone-methanol-glacial acetic acid (6 + 3 + 0.9 + 0.1) as the mobile phase and ultraviolet (UV) detection at 365 nm over a concentration range of 0.2-1 microg/band for both drugs, with mean recoveries of 99.99 +/- 0.15 and 100.00 +/- 0.34% for I and II, respectively. The third method was reversed-phase liquid chromatography using acetonitrile-water (40 + 60, v/v; adjusted to pH 2.55 with orthophosphoric acid) as the mobile phase and pentoxifylline as the internal standard at a flow rate of 1 mU/min with UV detection at 285 nm at ambient temperature over a concentration range of 2-10 microg/mL for both drugs, with mean recoveries of 100.24 +/- 1.51 and 100.08 +/- 0.78% for I and II, respectively. The proposed methods were checked using laboratory-prepared mixtures and were successfully applied for the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations containing the above drugs with no interference from other dosage form additives. The validity of the suggested procedures was further assessed by applying the standard addition technique which was found to be satisfactory, and the percentage recoveries obtained were in accordance with those given by the EVA Pharma reference spectrophotometric method.