Stability-Indicating HPTLC Method for the Determination of Tamsulosin in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A simple, sensitive, selective, precise and stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method was developed for the determination of tamsulosin (TAM) in bulk and tablet formulation. Validation was carried out in compliance with International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method employed thin-layer chromatography aluminium plates pre-coated with silica gel 60F₂₅₄ as the stationary phase and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile/methanol/dichloromethane (2.0: 1.0: 2.0, v/v/v). This solvent system was found to give compact spots for tamsulosin (R _f = 0.27 ± 0.02). Densitometric analysis of TAM was carried out in the absorbance mode at 286 nm. Linear regression analysis showed good linearity (r ² = 0.9993) with respect to peak area in the concentration range of 300–800 ng per band. The method was validated for precision, accuracy, ruggedness and recovery. Limits of detection and quantitation were 8.49 and 25.72 ng per band, respectively. TAM was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, photo degradation, dry heat and wet heat treatment. The drug underwent degradation under acidic, basic and photolytic conditions. The degraded products were well separated from the pure drug. Statistical analysis proved that the developed method, used for quantification of TAM as a bulk drug and present in pharmaceutical tablets, was reproducible and selective.

     

Stability-Indicating TLC Method for the Determination of Dutasteride in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A simple, sensitive, selective, precise and stability-indicating thin-layer chromatographic method for determination of dutasteride both as a bulk drug and as pharmaceutical tablets was developed and validated as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method employed thin-layer chromatography aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F₂₅₄ as the stationary phase and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile:methanol:dichloromethane in the ratio of 2.0:1.0:2.0, v/v/v. This solvent system was found to give compact spots for dutasteride (R _f value of 0.64 ± 0.02). Densitometric analysis of dutasteride was carried out in the absorbance mode at 244 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r = 0.9943 with respect to peak area in the concentration range of 100–600 ng per band. The method was validated for precision, accuracy, ruggedness and recovery. The limits of detection and quantitation were 7.54 and 22.85 ng per band, respectively. Dutasteride was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, photo degradation, dry heat and wet heat treatment. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic, basic conditions, photolytic, oxidative and upon wet and dry heat treatment. The degraded products were well separated from the pure drug. The statistical analysis proves that the developed method for quantification of dutasteride as bulk drug and from pharmaceutical tablets is reproducible and selective. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as stability-indicating.     

Stability-Indicating HPTLC Method for Analysis of Moclobemide, and Use of the Method to Study Degradation Kinetics

A sensitive, selective, precise, and stability-indicating HPTLC method for analysis of moclobemide in the bulk drug and in formulations has been established and validated. Aluminium TLC plates precoated with silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ were used with benzene–methanol–40% ammonia 7:3:0.1 (v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric analysis was performed in absorbance mode at 238 nm. Compact bands were obtained for moclobemide (R _F 0.67 ± 0.02; n = 6). The drug was subjected to acidic and alkaline hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat treatment, and photodegradation. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic, basic, and oxidising conditions. The degradation products were well resolved from the pure drug with significantly different R _F values, so the method can be regarded as stability-indicating. Response to moclobemide was a linear function of amount in the range 50–600 ng per band, with a correlation coefficient, r ², of 0.9967 ± 0.51. LOD and LOQ, determined experimentally, were 10 and 30 ng per band, respectively. Statistical analysis proves the method is repeatable and specific for analysis of moclobemide. The method was used to investigate the kinetics of alkaline degradation. The Arrhenius plot was constructed and the activation energy calculated.     

Stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of nelfinavir mesylate as bulk drug and in pharmaceutical dosage form

A sensitive, selective, precise and stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method of analysis of nelfinavir mesylate both as a bulk drug and in formulations was developed and validated. The method employed TLC aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F-254 as the stationary phase. The solvent system consisted of toluene-methanol-acetone (7:1.5:1.5, v/v/v). This system was found to give compact spots for nelfinavir mesylate (R_f value of 0.45±0.02). Nelfinavir mesylate was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat treatment and photodegradation. Also the peaks of degraded products were well resolved from the pure drug with significantly different R_f values. Densitometric analysis of nelfinavir mesylate was carried out in the absorbance mode at 250 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r²=0.999±0.002 in the concentration range of 1000-6000 ng per spot. The mean value of correlation coefficient, slope and intercept were 0.999±0.002, 0.014±0.001 and 21.73±1.26, respectively. The method was validated for precision, robustness and recovery. The limits of detection and quantitation were 60 and 140 ng per spot, respectively. Statistical analysis proves that the method is repeatable and selective for the estimation of the said drug. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as a stability indicating one.     

Simultaneous Determination of Tamsulosin and Dutasteride in Human Plasma by LC–MS–MS

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS–MS) method was developed for simultaneous identification and quantification of tamsulosin and dutasteride in human plasma, which was well applied to clinical study. The method was based on liquid–liquid extraction, followed by an LC procedure with a Gemini C-18, 50 mm × 2.0 mm (3 μm) column and using methanol:ammonium formate (97:3, v/v) as the mobile phase. Protonated ions formed by a turbo ionspray in positive mode were used to detect analytes and internal standard. MS–MS detection was by monitoring the fragmentation of 409.1 → 228.1 (m/z) for tamsulosin, 529.3 → 461.3 (m/z) for dutasteride and 373.2 → 305.3 (m/z) for finasteride (IS) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The lower limit of quantification for both tamsulosin and dutasteride was 1 ng mL^?1. The proposed method enables the unambiguous identification and quantification of tamsulosin and dutasteride for clinical drug monitoring.     

A Validated and Stability-Indicating LC Assay Method for Valdecoxib

A gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatographic assay was developed for the quantitative determination of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug valdecoxib. The developed method was also applicable to the determination of related substances in the bulk drug. Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk valdecoxib using acid (2.0 N hydrochloric acid), base (2.0 N sodium hydroxide), oxidation (6.0% v/v hydrogen peroxide), water hydrolysis, heat (60 °C) and photolysis. Mild degradation was observed using alkaline conditions and considerable degradation observed during oxidative stress. Chromatographic separation of process-related impurities and degradation products was achieved using a 5 micron Zorbax SB-CN LC column. The mobile phase consisted of aqueous potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 3.0) and acetonitrile. Stressed samples were assayed using the developed LC method and determination of the mass balance accounted for 99.5%, thus indicating the suitability of this stability-indicating method. Linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness have also been evaluated.     

A Simple and Rapid Stability Indicating LC Determination of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride as a Bulk Drug and from Formulations

The present research work discusses the development of a stability indicating reversed phase LC method for determination of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride as a bulk drug and from formulations. The mobile phase selected was water-acetonitrile-triethylamine 75:25:0.1 (v/v/v) adjusted to pH 4.0 with o-phosphoric acid. The calibration curve of the drug was linear in the range 0.25–15 μg mL^?1. The method was accurate and precise with limits of detection and quantitation of 8.01 and 26.7 ng, respectively. Mean percent recovery was 100.71%. The method was used for analysis of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride from pharmaceutical formulations in the presence of its degradation products and commonly used excipients.     

Development and Validation of a Stability Indicating LC Method for the Determination of Faropenem in Pharmaceutical Formulations

A simple, selective and sensitive stability indicating LC method has been developed and validated for the determination of faropenem in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulations in the presence of degradation products. The separation was achieved by using an isocratic mobile phase mixture of acetate buffer of pH 3.5 and methanol (65:35, v/v) and 250 mm × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm particle size SGE make Wakosil C-18 AR column at flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 with detection at 305 nm. The retention time of faropenem is 6.63 min and was linear in the range of 5–75 μg mL^?1 (r = 0.9999). The drug was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation and was found to be unstable in all the stress conditions. The proposed method was successfully employed for quantification of faropenem in bulk drug and its pharmaceutical formulations.     

Stability-Indicating Chromatographic Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Mosapride and Pantoprazole in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form and Plasma Samples

Simple, sensitive, selective, precise, and stability-indicating thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for the determination of mosapride and pantoprazole in pharmaceutical tablets were developed and validated as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The TLC method employs aluminum TLC plates precoated with silica gel 60F₂₅₄ as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate/methanol/toluene (4:1:2, v/v/v) as the mobile phase to give compact spots for mosapride (R _f 0.73) and pantoprazole (R _f 0.45) separated from their degradation products; the chromatogram was scanned at 276 nm. The HPLC method utilizes a C18 column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/methanol/20 mM ammonium acetate (4:2:4, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 for the separation of mosapride (t _R 11.4) and pantoprazole (t _R 4.4) from their degradation products. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 280 nm. The same HPLC method was successfully used in performing calibrations in lower concentration ranges for both drugs in human plasma using ezetimibe as internal standard. The methods were validated in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, limits of detection, and limits of quantification. Mosapride and pantoprazole were exposed to acid hydrolysis and then analyzed by the proposed methods. As the methods could effectively separate the drugs from their degradation products, these techniques can be employed as stability-indicating methods that have been successively applied to pharmaceutical formulations without interference from the excipients. Moreover the HPLC method was successfully used in the determination of both drugs in spiked human plasma.     

The International Conference on Harmonisation Guidance in Practice: Stress Degradation Studies on Lamivudine and Development of a Validated Specific Stability-Indicating HPTLC Assay Method

A sensitive, selective, precise and stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method of analysis of lamivudine both as a bulk drug and in formulations was developed and validated. The solvent system consisted of carbon tetrachloride – methanol – chloroform - acetonitrile (7.0: 3.0: 2.0: 1.5, v/v/v/v). Densitometric analysis of lamivudine was carried out in the absorbance mode at 275 nm. This system was found to give compact spots for lamivudine (R_F value of 0.36 ± 0.02) following double development of chromatoplates with the same mobile phase. Lamivudine was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and wet heat treatment and photo degradation. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic, basic conditions, oxidation, wet heat and photo degradation. Also the degraded products were well resolved from the pure drug with significantly different R_F values. Linearity was found to be in the range of 50 – 1000 ng spot^–1 with significantly high value of correlation coefficient. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r² = 0.9994 ± 0.05 in the working concentration range of 300 ng spot^–1 to 1000 ng spot^–1. The mean value of slope and intercept were 0.11 ± 0.08 and 10.47 ± 1.21, respectively. The method was validated for precision, robustness and recovery. The limit of detection and quantitation were 15 ng spot^–1 and 40 ng spot^–1 respectively. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as a stability indicating one. Moreover, the proposed HPTLC method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of acid degradation process. Arrhenius plot was constructed and activation energy was calculated.     

Stability-Indicating HPLC and RP-TLC Determination of Cefpirome Sulfate with Kinetic Study

Two sensitive and selective stability-indicating methods were developed for the determination of the antibiotic cefpirome sulfate in bulk powder, pharmaceutical formulation and in presence of its acid, alkaline, photo- and oxidative degradation products. Method A was based on HPLC separation of cefpirome sulfate in the presence of its degradation products on a reversed phase column C18, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5-μm particle size and mobile phase consisting of 0.1 M disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate pH 3.9 adjusted with phosphoric acid–acetonitrile (85:15, v/v). Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 270 nm. The linear calibration curve was in the range 5.0–50.0 μg mL^?1. Method B was based on reversed phase TLC separation of the cited drug in the presence of its degradation products followed by densitometric measurement of the intact drug at 270 nm. The separation was carried out using disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate 2.0 g %w/v, at pH 3.5 adjusted with phosphoric acid–acetone (15:10, v/v) as a developing system. The calibration curve was in the range of 1.0–10.0 μg/spot. The HPLC method was used to study the kinetic of cefpirome sulfate acid degradation. The results obtained were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by applying the official Japanese method.     

Stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of gatifloxacin as bulk drug and from polymeric nanoparticles

A simple, sensitive, selective, precise and stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for determination of gatifloxacin both as a bulk drug and from polymeric nanoparticles was developed and validated as per the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The method employed thin-layer chromatography (TLC) aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F-254 as the stationary phase and the mobile phase consisted of n-propanol-methanol-concentrated ammonia solution (25%) (5:1:0.9, v/v/v). This solvent system was found to give compact spots for gatifloxacin (R_f value of 0.60 ± 0.02). Densitometric analysis of gatifloxacin was carried out in the absorbance mode at 292 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r = 0.9953 with respect to peak area in the concentration range of 400-1200 ng spot⁻¹. The mean value (±S.D.) of slope and intercept were 9.66 ± 0.05 and 956.33 ± 27.67, respectively. The method was validated for precision, accuracy, ruggedness and recovery. The limits of detection and quantitation were 2.73 and 8.27 ng spot⁻¹, respectively. Gatifloxacin was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, photodegradation and dry heat treatment. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic and basic conditions and upon wet and dry heat treatment. The degraded products were well separated from the pure drug. The statistical analysis proves that the developed method for quantification of gatifloxacin as bulk drug and from polymeric nanoparticles is reproducible and selective. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as stability-indicating one.     

A Stability Indicating LC Method for Deferasirox in Bulk Drugs and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A novel, sensitive, stability indicating RP-LC method has been developed for the quantitative determination of deferasirox, its related impurities in both bulk drugs and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Efficient chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 stationary phase with simple mobile phase combination delivered in an isocratic mode and quantitation was by ultraviolet detection at 245 nm. The mobile phase consisted of buffer, acetonitrile and methanol (50:45:5, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Buffer consisted of 10 mM potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate monohydrate, pH adjusted to 3.0 by using orthophosphoric acid. In the developed LC method the resolution (R _s ) between deferasirox and its four potential impurities was found to be greater than 2.0. Regression analysis showed an r value (correlation coefficient) greater than 0.999 for deferasirox and its four impurities. This method was capable to detect all four impurities of deferasirox at a level of 0.002% with respect to test concentration of 0.5 mg mL^?1 for a 10 μL injection volume. The inter- and intra-day precision values for all four impurities and for deferasirox was found to be within 2.0% RSD. The method showed good and consistent recoveries for deferasirox in bulk drugs (98.3–101.1%), pharmaceutical dosage forms (100.2–103.1%) and for its all the four impurities (99.7–102.1%). The test solution was found to be stable in methanol for 48 h. The drug was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. Considerable degradation was found to occur in acid stress hydrolysis. The stress samples were assayed against a qualified reference standard and the mass balance was found close to 99.95%. The developed RP-LC method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness.     

Stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of levonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol in bulk drug and in low-dosage oral contraceptives

A stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of steroidal hormones levonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol both in bulk drug and in low-dosage oral contraceptives. Optimization of conditions for the spectrodensitometric procedure was reached by eluting HPTLC silica gel plates in a 10 cm × 10 cm horizontal chamber. The solvent system consisted of hexane-chloroform-methanol (1.0:3.0:0.25, v/v/v). This system was found to give compact, dense and typical peaks for both levonorgestrel (R_f = 0.65 ± 0.03) and ethinyloestradiol (R_f = 0.43 ± 0.02). Densitometric analysis of the drugs was carried out in the reflectance mode at 225 nm by using a computer controlled densitometric scanner. The calibration curves of levonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol were linear in the range of 200-800 and 40-160 ng per spot, respectively. The method was validated for precision, robustness and recovery. As the proposed method can effectively separate the drugs from their degradation products, it can be employed as a stability-indicating method.     

A Stability-Indicating LC Method for Analysis of Balsalazide Disodium in the Bulk Drug and in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A novel, sensitive, stability-indicating gradient RP-LC method has been developed for quantitative analysis of balsalazide disodium and its related impurities both in the bulk drug and in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Efficient chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ stationary phase with a simple mobile-phase gradient prepared from methanol and phosphate buffer (10 mm potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate monohydrate, adjusted to pH 2.5 by addition of orthophosphoric acid). The mobile-phase flow rate was 1.0 mL min^?1. Quantification was achieved by use of ultraviolet detection at 240 nm. Under these conditions resolution of balsalazide disodium from its three potential impurities was greater than 2.0. Regression analysis resulted in a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99 for balsalazide disodium and all three impurities. This method was capable of detecting the three impurities at 0.003% of the test concentration of 0.3 mg mL^?1, using an injection volume of 10 μL. Inter-day and intra-day precision for all three impurities and for balsalazide disodium was within 2.0% RSD. Recovery of balsalazide disodium from the bulk drug (99.2–101.5%) and from pharmaceutical dosage forms (99.8–101.3%), and recovery of the three impurities (99.1–102.1%) was consistently good. The test solution was found to be stable in 70:30 (v/v) methanol–water for 48 h. When the drug was subjected to hydrolytic, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal stress, acidic and alkaline hydrolysis and oxidizing conditions led to substantial degradation. The RP-LC method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness.     

Forced Degradation Study to Develop and Validate Stability-Indicating RP-LC for Quantification of Ropinirole Hydrochloride in Its Modified Release Tablets

A forced degradation study on ropinirole hydrochloride in bulk and in its modified release tablets was conducted under the conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation and photolysis in order to develop an isocratic stability-indicating LC-UV method for quantification of the drug in tablets. An impurity peak in standard solution was found to increase under acidic and neutral hydrolytic conditions while another degradation product was formed under alkaline condition. The drug and its degradation products were optimally resolved on a Hypersil C₁₈ column with mobile phase composed of diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate (0.05 M; pH 7.2), tetrahydrofuran and methanol (80:15:5% v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 at 30 °C using 250 nm as detection wavelength. The method was linear in the range of 0.05–50 μg mL^?1 drug concentrations. The %RSD of inter- and intra-day precision studies was <1. The system suitability parameters remained unaffected during quantification of the drug on three different LC systems. Excellent recoveries (101.59–102.28%) proved that the method was sufficiently accurate. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.012 and 0.040 μg mL^?1, respectively. Degradation behaviour of the drug in both bulk and tablets was similar. The drug was very unstable to hydrolytic conditions but stable to oxidative and photolytic conditions. The method can be used for rapid and accurate quantification of ropinirole hydrochloride in tablets during stability testing. Based on chemical reactivity of ropinirole in different media, the degradation products were suspected to be different from the known impurities of the drug.     

A Validated Stability Indicating LC Method for Mitotane in Bulk Drugs and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

A novel, sensitive, stability indicating RP-LC method has been developed for the quantitative determination of mitotane, its impurity in both bulk drugs and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Efficient chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 stationary phase with simple mobile phase combination delivered in an isocratic mode and quantitation was by ultraviolet detection at a wavelength of 230 nm. The mobile phase consisted of buffer and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Buffer consisted of 10 mM potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate monohydrate, pH adjusted to 2.5 by orthophosphoric acid. In the developed LC method the resolution (R _s ) between mitotane and its impurity namely Imp-1 was found to be greater than 2.5. Regression analysis shows an r value (correlation coefficient) greater than 0.999 for mitotane and its impurity. This method was capable to detect the impurity of mitotane at a level of 0.003% with respect to test a concentration of 0.2 mg mL^?1 for a 10 μL injection volume. The inter- and intra-day precision values for mitotane and its impurity was found to be within 2.0% RSD. The method has shown good and consistent recoveries for mitotane in bulk drugs (99.2–101.5%), pharmaceutical dosage forms (98.2–103.1%) and for its impurity (99.7–102.1%). The test solution was found to be stable in diluent for 48 h. The drug was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. Considerable degradation was found to occur in basic stress hydrolysis. The stress samples were assayed against a qualified reference standard and the mass balance was found close to 99.97%. The developed RP-LC method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness.     

HPTLC method for determination of nevirapine in pharmaceutical dosage form

A sensitive, selective, precise and stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method of analysis of nevirapine both as a bulk drug and in formulations was developed and validated. The solvent system consisted of toluene-carbon tetrachloride-methanol-acetone-ammonia (3.5:3.5:2.0:1.0:0.05, v/v/v/v/v). Densitometric analysis of nevirapine was carried out in the absorbance mode at 289nm. This system was found to give compact spots for nevirapine (R(f) value of 0.44+/-0.02). Nevirapine was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and wet heat treatment and photodegradation. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic, basic conditions and oxidation. Also the degraded products were well resolved from the pure drug with significantly different R(f) values. Linearity was found to be in the range of 30-1000ng/spot with significantly high value of correlation coefficient. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r(2)=0.998+/-0.002 in the working concentration range of 300ng/spot to 1000ng/spot. The mean value of slope and intercept were 0.073+/-0.005 and 36.78+/-1.50, respectively. The method was validated for precision, robustness and recovery. The limit of detection and quantitation were 5 and 10ng/spot, respectively. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as a stability indicating one. Moreover, the proposed HPTLC method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of acid degradation process. Arrhenius plot was constructed and activation energy was calculated.     

Stability indicating HPTLC determination of clopidogrel bisulphate as bulk drug and in pharmaceutical dosage form

A sensitive, selective, precise and stability indicating high-performance thin layer chromatographic method of analysis of clopidogrel bisulphate both as a bulk drug and in formulations was developed and validated in pharmaceutical dosage form. The method employed TLC aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F-254 as the stationary phase. The solvent system consisted of carbon tetrachloride-chloroform-acetone (6:4:0.15, v/v/v). This system was found to give compact spots for clopidogrel bisulphate (R_f value of 0.30±0.01). Clopidogrel bisulphate was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, photodegradation and dry heat treatment. Also the degraded products were well separated from the pure drug. Densitometric analysis of clopidogrel bisulphate was carried out in the absorbance mode at 230 nm. The linear regression data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r²=0.999±0.001 in the concentration range of 200-1000 ng. The mean value of correlation coefficient, slope and intercept were 0.999±0.001, 0.093±0.011 and 8.83±0.99, respectively. The method was validated for precision, accuracy, ruggedness and recovery. The limits of detection and quantitation were 40 and 120 ng per spot, respectively. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic and basic conditions, oxidation and dry heat treatment. All the peaks of degraded product were resolved from the standard drug with significantly different R_f values. This indicates that the drug is susceptible to acid-base hydrolysis, oxidation and dry heat degradation. Statistical analysis proves that the method is reproducible and selective for the estimation of the said drug. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as a stability indicating one.     

Stability-Indicating Chromatographic Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Mosapride and Pantoprazole in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form and Plasma Samples

Simple, sensitive, selective, precise, and stability-indicating thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for the determination of mosapride and pantoprazole in pharmaceutical tablets were developed and validated as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The TLC method employs aluminum TLC plates precoated with silica gel 60F₂₅₄ as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate/methanol/toluene (4:1:2, v/v/v) as the mobile phase to give compact spots for mosapride (R _f 0.73) and pantoprazole (R _f 0.45) separated from their degradation products; the chromatogram was scanned at 276 nm. The HPLC method utilizes a C18 column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/methanol/20 mM ammonium acetate (4:2:4, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹ for the separation of mosapride (t _R 11.4) and pantoprazole (t _R 4.4) from their degradation products. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 280 nm. The same HPLC method was successfully used in performing calibrations in lower concentration ranges for both drugs in human plasma using ezetimibe as internal standard. The methods were validated in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, limits of detection, and limits of quantification. Mosapride and pantoprazole were exposed to acid hydrolysis and then analyzed by the proposed methods. As the methods could effectively separate the drugs from their degradation products, these techniques can be employed as stability-indicating methods that have been successively applied to pharmaceutical formulations without interference from the excipients. Moreover the HPLC method was successfully used in the determination of both drugs in spiked human plasma.