Abstract

NOVEL SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF SOME AR TEMISININ DERIVATIVES IN TABLET USING 2,4-DINITROPHENYL HYDRAZINE REAGENT

*Attih Emmanuel, Paschal Chidera Anthony, Etim Emmanuel, Igboasonyi Alnold, Bassey Augustine and Fortune Chinaemezu Bartholomew

Abstract

Background: A novel spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of Artesunate (ART) and Dihydroartemisinin (DHA). These two frontline drugs have been used for the treatment of malaria. Their success in the treatment of malaria makes ART and DHA excellent candidates for adulteration and counterfeiting. Objective: To develop a method to add to the arsenal of methods already developed to check the influx of counterfeit ART and DHA. Materials and Methods: Different aliquots (0.5-5.0 ml) of the pure artesunate solution with concentration of 100 μg/ml were carefully transferred to a series of 10ml capacity calibrated volumetric flask. Absolute methanol was added to each flask to bring up the content to 5 ml and 1 ml of 0.1M of sulphuric acid was added to the mixture and shaken appropriately; then 1ml of sodium acetate buffer was added to each of the volumetric flask. Finally, 2 ml of 0.02 M, 2,4- diphenylhydrazine was added and methanol added to make up to the 10 ml mark of the flask and swirled gently to mix well. The Absorbance was measured at 310 nm, against reagent blank, prepared similarly but without the drug. Results: This system obeyed Beers law. The calibration curve obtained via least square method was linear with correlation coefficient of 0.9979 and 0.9997 respectively for DHA and ART. Molar absorptivity and standard sensitivity were 2.8x104LMol 1/ 1.0142μ g/cm2 and 2.930z104LMol-1/1.312ug/cm2 for DHA and ART respectively. The limit of detection and qualification were 0.41/1.15 and 0.32/0.58 for DHA and ART respectively. The accuracy and precision of the method were determined and were found to be ≤ 3.0%. The developed methods were statistically compared with established method using students T-test and Variance ratio F-test showing good congruence. Conclusion: The method was used to analyze tablets procured locally from Pharmacies within Uyo Metropolis in Nigeria with excellent recoveries obtained.

Keywords: Artesunate, Counterfeit, Dihidroartemisinin, Nucleophilic, Spectrophotometric.