Forced Degradation Study on Gliclazide and Application of Validated Stability-Indicating HPLC-UV Method in Stability Testing of Gliclazide Tablets

Forced degradation study on gliclazide was conducted under the conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and photolysis and an isocratic stability-indicating HPLC-UV method was developed and validated. All the seven degradation products (I–VII) formed under different conditions were optimally resolved on a C₁₈ column with mobile phase composed of 40% acetonitrile and 60% ammonium acetate solution (0.025 M, pH 3.5) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL min^?1 using 235 nm as detection wavelength. The method was linear between 5–500 μg mL^?1 drug concentrations. The %RSD of intra- and inter-day precision studies was <1 and <2% respectively. Excellent recoveries (99.81–100.97%) proved the method sufficiently accurate. Each peak resolved always with a resolution of >1.90 indicating the method to be rugged enough. The method was used to study the drug degradation behaviour under the forced conditions. Four degradation products (I–IV) were formed in 0.1 N HCl and water whereas only I and III were formed in 3% H₂O₂. Two new products V and VI in addition to I, III and IV were formed in 0.1 N NaOH. The drug was stable to thermal and photolytic decomposition. The degradation behaviour in water and 0.1 N NaOH was similar under dark and light conditions but a new product VII was formed in 0.01 N HCl in light. In general, the rate of degradation was accelerated by the light. The method was applied successfully in stability testing of gliclazide tablets.