RESUMO
Background: The simultaneous, quantitative determination of all active ingredients present in the analgesic formulation (Dazzle ointment) requires an ideal and novel method by which these phytoconstituents can be separated with the highest resolution without any interference from one another. Objective: The present work was conducted to develop and validate a quantitative method for the simultaneous estimation of all five phytoconstituents present in a polyherbal analgesic ointment by GC. Methods: α-Pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, menthol, and methyl salicylate present in the ingredients of the ointment were analyzed and quantified by GC using a crosslinked 5% phenyl polydimethylsiloxane capillary column, nitrogen as a carrier gas, and a flame-ionization detector. Aniline was used as the internal standard. Method validation was also performed in order to demonstrate its selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, and robustness. Results: The calibration curves of all five marker compounds showed good linear correlation coefficients (r² >0.998) within the tested ranges. The precision of the method was tested by carrying out intra- and interday analyses of the same sample. RSD values were observed to be <1.00%. The accuracy of the method, determined by performing recovery studies, was found to be between 99.25 and 101.39%. The developed method was also demonstrated to be robust (RSD <1.29%) by making small but deliberate variations in method parameters. Conclusions: The developed GC method is simple, precise, and accurate, it and can be used for the rapid quality control testing of the polyherbal formulation. Highlights: The developed GC method will assist in the standardization of polyherbal analgesic formulation consists of α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, menthol, and methyl salicylate as active constituents.