Application of potassium permanganate to spectrophotometric assay of metoclopramide hydrochloride in pharmaceuticals

Two simple, sensitive, and cost-effective spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of metoclopramide hydrochloride (MCP) in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The methods are based on a redox reaction between MCP and KMnO₄ in alkaline and acid media. Direct spectrophotometry (method A) involves treating MCP with permanganate in an NaOH medium and measuring a bluish green product at 610 nm. In indirect spectrophotometry (method B), MCP is treated with a fixed concentration of KMnO₄ in an H₂SO₄ medium, and after a specified time, the unreacted KMnO4 is measured at 545 nm. Under optimum assay conditions, Beer’s law is obeyed over the ranges of 0.75–12.0 and 2.5–30.0 g/ml for methods A and B, respectively. Molar absorptivity values are calculated to be 2.33∙10⁴ and 2.66∙10⁴ l/mol cm for methods A and B, respectively, and corresponding Sandell’s sensitivity values are 0.015 and 0.013 g/cm². Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) are also reported. The applicability of the developed methods was demonstrated by the determination of MCP in tablet and injection forms. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed methods were further ascertained by recovery studies via standard addition technique.