A simple, accurate, and precise spectrophotometric method was developed for simultaneous estimation of pantoprazole sodium and levosulpiride in capsule dosage form. Simultaneous equation was developed at 290 and 232 nm. The method was found to be linear in the range of 4–12
Pantoprazole sodium (PNT) is a sodium 5-(difluoromethoxy)-2-[[(3,4-dimethoxy]-2-pyridinyl) methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole [
Structure of pantoprazole sodium.
Structure of levosulpiride.
The literature review revealed that LC methods [
A comprehensive literature research revealed that no spectrophotometric method is reported for the estimation of PNT and LVS in pharmaceutical formulations. So, the purpose of the present study was to develop and validate spectrophotometric analytical method for the estimation of both drugs in combination.
All the absorption spectra were recorded on UV-visible double beam spectrophotometer (UV-1700, Shimadzu Corp., Japan) with 1 cm quartz cell. The drugs and chemicals were weighed on Shimadzu electronic balance (AX 200, Shimadzu Corp., Japan).
Analytically pure PNT and LVS were obtained as gift samples from Balaji Chemicals, Mumbai, India, and Corona Remedies Pvt. Ltd., India, respectively. The purity of PNT and LVS were found to be 99.52%, and 99.15%, respectively, according to the manufacturer’s analysis certificates. Capsule formulation (Pantocid-L capsule, Sun Pharma. Ltd., India) containing labeled amount of 40 mg of PNT and 75 mg of LVS was used for the study. Methanol (E. Merck, Mumbai, India) used as a solvent was of analytical grade.
Stock solutions were prepared by accurately weighing 25 mg each of PNT and LVS and transferring to two separate 25 mL volumetric flasks containing a few mL of methanol. The flasks were swirled to dissolve solids. Volumes were made up to the mark with methanol, which gave 1000 µg/mL of both the drugs. Aliquots from the stock solutions were appropriately diluted with methanol to obtain working standard solutions of 100 µg/mL of each drug.
For the development of simultaneous equation method, the wavelength maxima of both the drugs are required. The overlain spectra of PNT and LVS (10 µg/mL) showed that 290 nm is the wavelength maxima of PNT and that 232 nm is the wavelength maxima of LVS. So, 290 nm and 232 nm were selected for the formation of simultaneous equation (Figure
Overlain UV spectra of PNT and LVS.
Appropriate aliquots of PNT and LVS working standard solutions were taken in different 10 mL volumetric flasks and diluted up to the mark with methanol to obtain final concentrations of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 15 µg/mL of PNT and 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 µg/mL of LVS, respectively. Spectra of the solutions were scanned between 400 and 200 nm. The absorbance of solutions was measured at 290.0 nm and 232 nm against methanol as blank, and the absorbance versus concentration was plotted. The straight line equations for both drugs at two wavelengths were determined, and the values of
The method was validated for accuracy, precision, specificity and robustness by following procedure.
The intraday and interday precision study of the proposed method were carried by measuring absorbance three times on the same day and on three different days for three different concentrations of PNT (4, 8, and 12 µg/mL) and LVS (8, 15, and 20 µg/mL), and the results reported in terms of RSD. The instrument precision was evaluated by estimating responses of three different concentrations of PNT (4, 8, and 12 µg/mL) and LVS (8, 15, and 20 µg/mL) six times and results reported in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD).
The accuracy of the method was determined by calculating recoveries of PNT and LVS by method of standard additions. Known amounts of PNT (0, 2, 4, and 6 µg/mL) and LVS (0, 4, 8, and 12 µg/mL) were added to a prequantified sample solutions, and the amount of PNT and LVS were estimated by proposed method.
For specificity study commonly used excipients present in selected capsule formulation were spiked into a preweighed quantity of drugs. The absorbance was measured, and the quantities of drugs were determined. The excipients used were talc, microcrystalline cellulose, starch (S. D. Fine chemicals, India), and carboxymethyl cellulose (Allied Chemical Corporation, India).
Robustness of the method was studied by observing the stability of both drug solutions at 25 ± 2°C for 24 h.
Validity of formed equation has been checked by preparation of four mixed standards. Appropriate aliquots of PNT working standard solutions were taken in different 10 mL volumetric flasks. Appropriate aliquots of LVS working standard solutions were added to the same flask, and the volume was diluted to the mark with methanol to achieve final concentration of 4, 6, 8, and 10 µg/mL of PNT and 8, 12, 16, and 20 µg/mL of LVS. Spectra of solutions were scanned, and absorbance was measured at 290.0 and 232.0 nm. Absorbance at these two wavelengths was substituted in the simultaneous equation to calculate the amount of the drug present.
Twenty tablets were weighed and finely powdered. Powder equivalent to 10 mg of PNT (and 18.75 mg LVS) was accurately weighed and transferred to a 50 mL volumetric flask. A few mL (20 mL) of methanol was added to the above flask, and flask was sonicated for 5 minutes. The solution was filtered in to another 50 mL volumetric flask using Whatman filter paper (number 1), and volume was made up to the mark with the same solvent.
Appropriate volume of the aliquot was transferred to 25 mL volumetric flask, and the volume was made up to the mark with methanol to obtain 18.75 µg/mL of LVS (and 10 µg/mL of PNT). Spectra of solutions were scanned between 400 and 200 nm, and the absorbance of the solution was measured at 290.0 nm and 232.0 nm. Absorbance at these two wavelengths was substituted in the simultaneous equation to calculate the amount of the drug present.
For the development of simultaneous equation method the wavelength maxima of both drugs are required. The overlain spectra of PNT and LVS (10 µg/mL) showed that 290 nm is the wavelength maxima of PNT and that 232 nm is the wavelength maxima of LVS. So, 290 nm and 232 nm were selected for the formation of simultaneous equation (Figure
The calibration curves for PNT and LVS were prepared at 290 nm and 232 nm individually, and absorptivity values were determined. Calibration curves were found to be linear in the range of 4–12 µg/mL for PNT and 8–20 µg/mL for LVS.
The following formulae were established for the estimation of drugs in combined dosage form using simultaneous equation method:
Precision studies were carried out to study the intraday and interday variations of the responses. Instrumental precision study was carried out by repeatability study. The low RSD value indicates that the method is precise (Table
Summary of the validation parameters.
Parameters | PNT | LVS |
---|---|---|
Detection limit ( |
0.4785 | 0.5301 |
Quantitation limit ( |
1.4500 | 1.6063 |
Accuracy (%) | 100.24–100.99 | 100.52–100.95 |
Precision (%RSD) | ||
Intraday precision |
0.59–1.28 | 0.65–1.37 |
Interday precision |
1.15–1.95 | 1.05–2.23 |
Repeatability (%RSD) | 0.38–0.69 | 0.37–1.21 |
Robustness | 98.45–100.48% | 99.12–100.65% |
Validity of the equations was checked by preparation of mixed standards (Table
Validation study using mixed standard.
Amount of standard drug taken ( |
% recovery ± SD ( |
||
---|---|---|---|
PNT | LVS | PNT | LVS |
4 | 8 | 100.78 ± 1.76 | 99.79 ± 2.81 |
6 | 12 | 99.58 ± 1.91 | 99.39 ± 2.16 |
8 | 16 | 100.80 ± 0.81 | 100.04 ± 0.66 |
10 | 20 | 100.96 ± 1.51 | 99.62 ± 0.46 |
Analysis of marketed formulations.
Formulation | Labeled amount (mg) | Amount found (mg) | % of drug found ± SD* | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PNT | LVS | PNT | LVS | PNT | LVS | |
Tablet 1 | 40 | 75 | 39.96 | 75.39 | 99.90 ± 1.58 | 100.52 ± 2.01 |
*Mean value ± standard deviation of three determinations; tablet: PANTOCID-L, Sun Pharma, Sikkim, India.
Simultaneous equation method has been developed for the estimation of PNT and LVS in their combined dosage form. The method was validated and found to be simple, sensitive, accurate, and precise. Simultaneous equation method is having advantage that it is simple, it requires less analysis time, and the cost of the analysis is less compared to chromatographic method. The method was successfully applied in the estimation of PNT and LVS in their combined dosage form.
The authors thank Balaji suppliers, Mumbai (India), and Corona Remedies Pvt. Ltd, Himachal Pradesh (India) for supplying gift samples of pantoprazole sodium and levosulpiride, respectively. The authors are highly thankful to Indukaka Ipcowala College of Pharmacy, New V.V.Nagar, Gujarat, India, for providing all the facilities to carry out the work.