A Validated Stability Indicating RP-LC Method for Nitazoxanide, a New Antiparasitic Compound

The present paper describes stability indicating reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) assay method for nitazoxanide in bulk drugs. The developed method is also applicable for the related substances determination in bulk drug. The drug substance was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, photolysis and thermal degradation. The considerable degradation of nitazoxanide was observed under base and peroxide hydrolysis. The drug was found to be stable in other stress conditions attempted. The chromatographic separation of the drug was achieved on reversed-phase C-18 column. Eluents were monitored on photo-diode array detector at a wavelength of 240 nm. The mobile phase was aqueous 0.005 M tetra butyl ammonium hydrogen sulphate and acetonitrile (45:55, v/v). In the developed HPLC method, resolution between nitazoxanide and its potential impurities, namely Imp-A (5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-amine), Imp-B (N-(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl) acetamide) and Imp-C (2-{[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl) amino] carbonyl} phenyl 2-(acetyloxy) benzoate) was found greater than three. The developed RP-HPLC method was validated with respect to response function, accuracy, precision, specificity, stability of analytical solutions and robustness. Also to determine related substances and assay determination of nitazoxanide that can be used to evaluate the quality of regular production samples. The developed method can also be conveniently used for the assay determination of nitazoxanide in pharmaceutical formulations.