Abstract

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ERYTHROMYCIN TABLET USING UV SPECTROSCOPY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Ebiere Dode*, Baraikio Didi and Josiah G. Puyate

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Abstract

Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic produced by strain of Saccharopolyspora erythreas is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis. They exist as tablet, capsule, or suspension, injectables, ophthalmic solution and ointments. They are one of the most frequently prescribed second-line antibiotics in Nigeria for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. Due to availability of adulterated and substandard drugs, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is on the rise, particularly in the sub-Saharan region. Weight uniformity test, disintegration test, dissolution test, UV spectroscopy, and microbiological assay were used to examine five different brands of erythromycin stearate tablets. The weight uniformity test was done using analytical balance to compare their respective weights. The disintegration test was done using disintegration apparatus and distilled water as the medium. The dissolution test was done using dissolution apparatus and 0.1 N HCl as the medium. The microbiological assay was tested with the following bacteria using the Agar well diffusion method: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis. Both disintegration test and weight uniformity test were passed by all brands. Except for E4, all brands passed dissolution test. All brands had percentage purity levels within the allowed range for the chemical analysis. For the microbiological assay, against E. coli, all brands have high antibacterial activity except E3 with intermediate antibacterial activity. Against S. aureus, all brands had intermediate antibacterial activity. Against P. aeruginosa, all brands had high antibacterial activity except E4 with intermediate antibacterial activity. Against B. subtilis, all brands had high antibacterial activity.

Keywords: Erythromycin, AMR, disintegration, dissolution, UV spectroscopy.