Reverse-phase liquid chromatographic determination of dexamethasone acetate and cortisone acetate in bulk drug substance and dosage forms: collaborative study

A reverse-phase liquid chromatographic method for determination of dexamethasone acetate and of cortisone acetate was subjected to an interlaboratory study by 8 collaborators for each steroid acetate. Bulk drug substance, suspensions, and tablets were assayed. Bulk drug or dosage form is dissolved in an acetonitrile-buffer mixture and analyzed by an external standard method. The steroid acetate is resolved from extraneous components by reverse-phase chromatography and detected at 254 nm. The sample solutions are stable for at least 72 h. For dexamethasone acetate, coefficients of variation were 0.9 and less than or equal to 3.1% for the bulk drug substance and the suspensions, respectively. For cortisone acetate, coefficients of variation were 0.7% for bulk material, less than or equal to 2.0% for suspensions, and less than or equal to 2.5% for tablets. All dosage forms were commercial formulations. The 2 methods have been adopted official first action.     

Reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination of bisacodyl in dosage forms

A method is described for the determination of bisacodyl in enteric-coated tablets and suppositories by liquid chromatography (LC). The method will also determine the hydrolysis degradation products monoacetylbisacodyl and desacetylbisacodyl. The sample is dissolved in 2-propanol, and the extract is diluted with the mobile phase and injected into a liquid chromatograph fitted with a mu Bondapak C18 column and an ultraviolet detector set at 254 nm. The column is eluted with methanol-acetonitrile-0.01M citric acid (25 + 25 + 50). The pooled mean recovery value for bisacodyl from commercial enteric-coated tablets and suppositories was 99.7% with a pooled coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.72%. For content uniformity assays, the CVs were 0.7 and 1.0% for groups of 10 individual commercial suppositories and tablets, respectively. Differences between assay values by the LC and USP XX methods were 0.2% of declared for enteric-coated tablets (n = 5) and 1.0% of declared for suppositories (n = 2). The LC method can determine as little as 0.015 microgram of the monoacetyl or desacetyl degradation product.     

Analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms for oxfendazole: I. Reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination of oxfendazole in swine premix

A reverse phase liquid chromatographic (LC) procedure is described for quantitating oxfendazole (2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-5-phenylsulfinylbenzimidazole] in swine premix. Sample preparation consists of extracting oxfendazole with an acetone-methanol mixture. An aliquot of the extract is then centrifuged to separate undissolved premix excipients. Internal standard is added to the supernate and the sample is further diluted with water-acetonitrile-phosphoric acid (80 + 20 + 1). Oxfendazole is quantitatively determined using a Partisil-5-ODS-3 column with acetonitrile-0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) as the mobile phase. The method is stability specific and yields a mean recovery of 101.1 +/- 0.4% for the 1.35% premix formulation. The dependence of chromatographic performance characteristics on mobile phase organic content, pH, and buffer concentration is also reported.     

High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of oxazepam dosage forms: collaborative study

A reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatographic method for the determination of oxazepam in tablets and capsules was collaboratively studied by 9 laboratories. Collaborators were supplied with 6 samples that included synthetic and commercial formulations. Tablet and capsule composites are diluted with methanol and filtered. Oxazepam is determined at 254 nm by using a C18 column. Mean recoveries of oxazepam from synthetic tablet and capsule formulations were 97.2 and 99.0%, respectively. Mean coefficients of variation for tablets and capsules ranged from 1.85 to 2.86%. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination of some food additives

Liquid chromatographic methods are described for the separation and determination of non-nutritive sweeteners, namely, acesulfame, aspartame, saccharin, and dulcin; preservatives such as benzoic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid; and caffeine and vanillin in ready-to-serve beverages, ice candy, ice cream, squash beverage, tomato sauce, and dry beverage mix samples. These additives are separated on a muBondapak C18 column using methanol-acetic acid-water (20 + 5 + 75) as mobile phase and detected by UV absorption at 254 nm. Caffeine, vanillin, dulcin, and benzoic acid can be analyzed quickly by using a mobile phase of methanol-acetic acid-water (35 + 5 + 60). Aspartame can be separated in the presence of caffeine and vanillin by using the mobile phase pH 3 acetate buffer-methanol (95 + 5). Retention factors and minimum detectable limits are described. The percentage error and the percent relative standard deviation for 6 replicate samples ranged from 0.3 to 2.8 and from 1.64 to 3.60, respectively. Recovery of additives added to the foods named and analyzed by the direct method and by extraction ranged from 98.0 to 100.6% and from 91.6 to 101.8%, respectively. The proposed LC techniques are simple, rapid, and advantageous because all the additives can be detected in a single step, which makes it useful for the routine analysis of various food products.     

Reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination of aspartame in beverages and beverage mixes

A method is described for determining the artificial sweetener aspartame in beverages and beverage mixes by liquid chromatography. Aspartame is separated on a microC18 column, using a mobile phase of acetic acid, water, and isopropyl alcohol at pH 3.0 and UV detection at 254 nm. Beverages are filtered through 0.45 micron filters and injected directly into the chromatograph. Aspartame is eluted in approximately 7 min. Detection of aspartame is confirmed by a UV scan of the trapped peak. Aspartame is quantitated in the presence of other beverage additives such as saccharin, caffeine, sodium benzoate, artificial colors, and artificial flavors. Results are presented for spiked soda beverages, beverages from fruit-flavored mixes, instant tea, reconstituted presweetened drink mixes, and a powdered tabletop sweetener.     

Reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination and confirmation of aflatoxin M1 in cheese

A systematic method is proposed for determination and confirmation of aflatoxin M1 in cheese by liquid chromatography (LC). A sample of cheese is extracted with chloroform, cleaned up on 2 silica gel columns followed by a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, and chromatographed on a 5 microns octadecyl silica column with fluorometric detection. The sample extract or standard is treated with n-hexane-trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (4 + 1) for 30 min at 40 degrees C. Analysis by LC with TFA-treatment of the extract provides quantitative data. Multiple assays of 5 samples of Gouda cheese spiked with aflatoxin M1 at levels of 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05 ng/g showed average recoveries of 93.2, 91.6, and 92.4%, with coefficients of variation of 2.63, 3.97, and 4.52%, respectively. Assay of 5 naturally contaminated cheeses resulted in 0.051-0.448 ng/g of aflatoxin M1. Limit of quantitation is about 0.01 ng/g. The identity of aflatoxin M1 is confirmed by treating aflatoxin M1 or the M2a derivative with TFA-methanol (or ethanol) (3 + 1). The TFA-methanol reaction products of M2a could be detected quantitatively.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of propranolol hydrochloride in various dosage forms

A simple and rapid liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of propranolol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations. The separation was achieved on a reverse-phase octylsilane (C8) column by using a mobile phase composed of a mixture of 0.5 g dodecyl sodium sulfate in 18 mL (0.15 M) H3PO4 plus 90 mL methanol, 90 mL acetonitrile, and 52 mL water. Detector response was linear for 0.03-3.1 mg/mL of propranolol. Recoveries from synthetic mixtures ranged from 99.6 to 101.7%. The results obtained by the proposed method were similar to those obtained by the USP XXI method.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of six sympathomimetic drugs in dosage forms

A simple and rapid stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method is described for quantitative determination of 6 sympathomimetic drugs in various liquid and solid formulations. Analyses were carried out on a C18 reverse phase column using 0.01M 1-octanesulfonic acid, sodium salt in 0.2% acetic acid-methanol (70 + 30) as the mobile phase with photometric detection at 220 nm. Coefficients of variation for 5 consecutive injections of a mixed standards solution ranged from 0.62% for metaraminol to 1.40% for epinephrine. Standard recoveries ranged from 98.8% for metaraminol to 100.8% for epinephrine. The method was linear between 0.2 and 10 micrograms of drug injected and was used successfully to analyze 17 commercial products in a variety of dosage forms.     

Reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatographic determination of vitamin K1 in infant formulas

A reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for quantitating vitamin K1 in enzymatic hydrolysates of infant formula is described. The vitamin is extracted with n-pentane before determination by isocratic and isothermal reverse phase HPLC. Recovery of vitamin K1 added to 5 infant formulas ranged from 84 to 103%.     

Liquid chromatographic method for perphenazine and its sulfoxide in pharmaceutical dosage forms for determination of stability

A liquid chromatographic method is described for determination of perphenazine and perphenazine sulfoxide in representative dosage forms. Sulfoxide levels were nondetectable or less than 1% in tablets and in an injectable product. Sulfoxide levels increase with time in some syrup formulations and may be as high as 11% in syrup formulations before their expiration date.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of methocarbamol in injection and tablet dosage forms: collaborative study

A reverse phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for determining methocarbamol in injection and tablet dosage forms. The injections require dilution only; the tablets require a filtration step before introduction into the chromatograph. Response for methocarbamol was linear over the range 0-18 micrograms, using an ultraviolet detector at 274 nm. Recoveries by the author ranged from 96.1 to 101.9% for authentic injection formulations and 98.0 to 101.0% for authentic tablet formulations. A collaborative study of the method by 6 laboratories resulted in standard deviations of 1.70 and 2.22 for injection and tablet dosage forms, respectively. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of levodopa and levodopa-carbidopa in solid dosage forms: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of levodopa in tablets and capsules and levodopa-carbidopa in tablets was collaboratively studied by 6 laboratories. Collaborators were supplied with duplicate powdered composites of levodopa (1 synthetic formulation, 1 commercial tablet, and 1 commercial capsule) and levodopa-carbidopa (1 synthetic formulation and 2 commercial tablets), along with individual levodopa-carbidopa tablets for content uniformity determinations. The repeatability coefficient of variation (CVo) and reproducibility coefficient of variation (CVx) for levodopa single component were 0.48 and 0.87%; for levodopa in combination, 0.50 and 0.90%; and for carbidopa, 0.77 and 1.20%, respectively. Overall, the recovery values for levodopa and carbidopa from synthetic formulations simulating tablets were 100.4 and 99.5%, respectively. The pooled CVDo and CVDx values for the individual tablet assays were 2.07 and 2.30% for levodopa, and 1.80 and 2.24% for carbidopa, respectively. The method has been adopted official first action for determination of the active ingredients in levodopa tablets and capsules and in levodopa-carbidopa tablets and for content uniformity testing in the combination dosage form.     

Reverse phase ion pair high pressure liquid chromatographic determination of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in crabmeat and mayonnaise.

A method is described for the determination of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in crabmeat and mayonnaise. EDTA is extracted from the food sample with water and converted to its copper chelate, which is then quantitated by reverse phase ion pair high pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Maximum sensitivity is obtained with detection at about 254 nm; higher wavelengths may be used for enhanced specificity. Cleanup procedures for crabmeat and mayonnaise were improved by using a radiotracer method. Analyses of crabmeat and mayonnaise samples spiked at 3 different levels showed greater than 90% recovery of EDTA.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of organic nitrogenous bases in dosage forms: a progress report

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method has been developed as a general procedure for the assay of the salts of organic nitrogenous bases in a variety of dosage forms. The method uses a nitrile-bonded reverse phase column, a methanol-0.003M ammonium acetate (90 + 10) mobile phase, and photometric detection at 254 nm. The sample is dissolved in the mobile phase and an aliquot is injected through a 20 microL injection loop. Average recovery values for duplicate assays were chlorpheniramine maleate injection 97.8%, chlorpheniramine maleate tablets 99.1%, cyclizine hydrochloride tablets 100.0%, doxylamine succinate tablets 103.3%, mesoridazine besylate tablets 100.4%, pentazocine hydrochloride tablets 103.0%, promethazine hydrochloride injection 98.4%, protriptyline hydrochloride tablets 101.2%, pyrilamine maleate tablets 97.8%, pyrimethamine tablets 100.0%, tripelennamine citrate elixir 100.0%, and tripelennamine hydrochloride tablets 97.2%. Results by this method were in good agreement with those obtained by the USP XX method. This study, which is being continued, will be expanded to include additional drugs.     

Analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms for oxfendazole: II. Simultaneous liquid chromatographic determination of oxfendazole and trichlorfon in equine paste

A reverse phase liquid chromatographic procedure is described for the simultaneous determination of oxfendazole [2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-5-phenylsulfinylbenzimidazole] and trichlorfon [(2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethyl)phosphonic acid dimethyl ester] in equine paste. The sample is extracted by sonication in methanol. Insoluble excipients are removed by centrifugation and an aliquot plus internal standard are diluted with dilution solvent (water-acetonitrile-phosphoric acid, 80 + 20 + 1). The samples are filtered and injected onto a Partisil-5 ODS-3 column with acetonitrile-0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 6.0 (20 + 80) as mobile phase. Method specificity is confirmed using an absorbance rationing technique. The method yields mean recoveries of 100.9 and 100.0% for trichlorfon and oxfendazole, respectively. Dependence of chromatographic performance characteristics on mobile phase organic content, pH, and buffer concentration is also reported.     

Liquid chromatographic determination and identification tests for dexamethasone in bulk drugs and elixirs: collaborative study

A normal phase liquid chromatographic method for the determination of dexamethasone in bulk drugs and elixirs was collaboratively studied by 6 laboratories. The method uses a silica column, water-modified acetic acid-methanol-methylene chloride mobile phase, cortisone internal standard, and photometric detection at 254 nm. Collaborators were supplied blind duplicate samples of 3 bulk drugs, 2 commercial elixirs, and 1 authentic elixir. Dexamethasone elixir dosage level is 0.5 mg/5 mL. Mean recovery of dexamethasone from the authentic elixir formulated to contain 0.471 mg/5 mL was 94.5%. (Authentic elixirs were found to stabilize about 6% below the theoretical concentration.) Mean recovery for the bulk drugs was between 97.1 and 100.1%. Mean coefficients of variation for bulk drug and elixir samples were less than 0.8% and 3.6%, respectively. Identification tests for dexamethasone by thin-layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and relative LC retention times, as well as the gas chromatographic determination of alcohol in the elixirs were also collaboratively studied. Mean recovery of alcohol from the synthetic elixir was 98.6%. The mean coefficient of variation for alcohol for all samples analyzed was less than 1.4%. The LC method for dexamethasone in drug substance and elixirs, the identification tests, and the GC method for alcohol in dexamethasone elixirs have been adopted official first action.     

Ion-pair column chromatographic determination of trimethobenzamide hydrochloride in capsule and injection dosage forms: collaborative study

An ion-pair column chromatographic method was developed for the determination of trimethobenzamide hydrochloride in capsules and injection dosage forms. Detection is by UV spectrophotometry at 261 nm. Recoveries by the Associate Referee ranged from 98.3 to 101.0% for the drug substance. Results by 5 collaborators for capsules averaged 99.1% of labeled or theoretical with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 1.81% (reproducibility) and 1.17% (repeatability); results for injections averaged 100.4% of labeled or theoretical with CVs of 1.91% (reproducibility) and 0.69% (repeatability). The method has been adopted official first action.     

Normal phase liquid chromatographic determination of sulfamethoxazole in tablets: collaborative study

A stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method is presented for determining sulfamethoxazole in tablets. The method uses a 10 micron silica column, an isooctane-methylene chloride-2-propanol-acetonitrile-glacial acetic acid (70 + 25 + 5 + 5 + 0.5) mobile phase, and photometric detection at 254 nm. Seven laboratories collaboratively studied this method on powdered composite samples prepared from commercial 500 and 1000 mg tablets and on an authentic tablet mixture containing 83.32% added sulfamethoxazole. Mean assay results for the 500 and 1000 mg tablets were 102.2 and 97.9% of declared, respectively (n = 4). The mean recovery value for the synthetic sample was 99.4% (n = 4). The pooled reproducibility standard deviation (SD) (coefficient of variation (CV)) and pooled repeatability SD (CV) were +/- 1.01 (1.01%) and +/- 0.96 (0.96%), respectively. These results were in good agreement with those obtained by the Associate Referee for the titration method of USP XX. The proposed method can also be used for monitoring the presence of sulfanilamide in sulfamethoxazole by increasing the proportions of both acetonitrile and 2-propanol in the mobile phase. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of levodopa, levodopa-carbidopa, and related impurities in solid dosage forms

A rapid reverse phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of levodopa and levodopa-carbidopa in tablets and capsules. The method also separates these drugs from 3-(3,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)alanine and methoxytyrosine, impurities of levodopa, and from methyldopa and 3-O-methylcarbidopa, impurities of carbidopa. The mobile phase was 3% acetic acid and the detection wavelength was 280 nm. The method was linear over the concentration range 0.05-0.40 mg levodopa/mL, 0.01-0.06 mg carbidopa/mL, 0.9-12.8 micrograms 3-(3,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)alanine/mL, 0.7-3.1 micrograms methyldopa/mL, 5-20 micrograms methoxytyrosine/mL, and 0.5-3.3 micrograms 3-O-methylcarbidopa/mL. Mean recoveries (%) for spiked commercial tablets were: levodopa 100.3, carbidopa 100.4, 3-(3,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)alanine 99.1, methoxytyrosine 100.0, methyldopa 100.0, and 3-O-methylcarbidopa 99.4.