Application of derivative, derivative ratio, and multivariate spectral analysis and thin-layer chomatography-densitometry for determination of a ternary mixture containing drotaverine hydrochloride, caffeine, and paracetamol

New selective, precise, and accurate methods are described for the determination of a ternary mixture containing drotaverine hydrochloride (I), caffeine (II), and paracetamol (III). The first method uses the first (D1) and third (D3) derivative spectrophotometry at 331 and 315 nm for the determination of (I) and (III), respectively, without interference from (II). The second method depends on the simultaneous use of the first derivative of the ratio spectra (DD1) with measurement at 312.4 nm for determination of (I) using the spectrum of 40 microg/mL (III) as a divisor or measurement at 286.4 and 304 nm after using the spectrum of 4 microg/mL (I) as a divisor for the determination of (II) and (III), respectively. In the third method, the predictive abilities of the classical least-squares, principal component regression, and partial least-squares were examined for the simultaneous determination of the ternary mixture. The last method depends on thin-layer chromatography-densitometry after separation of the mixture on silica gel plates using ethyl acetate-chloroform-methanol (16 + 3 + 1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The spots were scanned at 281, 272, and 248 nm for the determination of (I), (II), and (III), respectively. Regression analysis showed good correlation in the selected ranges with excellent percentage recoveries. The chemical variables affecting the analytical performance of the methodology were studied and optimized. The methods showed no significant interferences from excipients. Intraday and interday assay precision and accuracy values were within regulatory limits. The suggested procedures were checked using laboratory-prepared mixtures and were successfully applied for the analysis of their pharmaceutical preparations. The validity of the proposed methods was further assessed by applying a standard addition technique. The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the manufacturer's method.