Least median of squares and iteratively re-weighted least squares as robust linear regression methods for fluorimetric determination of α-lipoic acid in capsules in ideal and non-ideal cases of linearity.

This study outlines two robust regression approaches, namely least median of squares (LMS) and iteratively re-weighted least squares (IRLS) to investigate their application in instrument analysis of nutraceuticals (that is, fluorescence quenching of merbromin reagent upon lipoic acid addition). These robust regression methods were used to calculate calibration data from the fluorescence quenching reaction (∆F and F-ratio) under ideal or non-ideal linearity conditions. For each condition, data were treated using three regression fittings: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), LMS and IRLS. Assessment of linearity, limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ), accuracy and precision were carefully studied for each condition. LMS and IRLS regression line fittings showed significant improvement in correlation coefficients and all regression parameters for both methods and both conditions. In the ideal linearity condition, the intercept and slope changed insignificantly, but a dramatic change was observed for the non-ideal condition and linearity intercept. Under both linearity conditions, LOD and LOQ values after the robust regression line fitting of data were lower than those obtained before data treatment. The results obtained after statistical treatment indicated that the linearity ranges for drug determination could be expanded to lower limits of quantitation by enhancing the regression equation parameters after data treatment. Analysis results for lipoic acid in capsules, using both fluorimetric methods, treated by parametric OLS and after treatment by robust LMS and IRLS were compared for both linearity conditions.

Differential pulse cathodic voltammetric determination of floctafenine and metopimazine.

A simple, rapid and sensitive voltammetric method for the determination of floctafenine (FFN) and metopimazine (MPZ) was developed. Well-defined cathodic waves were obtained for both drugs in Britton-Robinson buffer pH 9.0 using the differential-pulse mode at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). The current-concentration relationship was found to be linear over the ranges 0.4-3.6 and 0.4-2.4 microg ml(-1) for FFN and MPZ, respectively. The quantification of the two drugs in their pharmaceutical formulations was carried out using the proposed voltammetric method and compared with spectrophotometric analysis data. The mechanisms of the electrode reactions for the two drugs were proposed.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of proquazone and its m-hydroxy metabolite in spiked human plasma and urine.

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of proquazone (PQZ) and its major metabolite, m-hydroxyproquazone, in spiked human plasma and urine was developed. Plasma samples were purified using acetonitrile as a protein precipitant, while urine samples were diluted only with the mobile phase and filtered prior to injection. Samples containing the parent compounds and glafenine (internal standard) were eluted from a reversed-phase C8 column using acetonitrile-0.025 M sodium acetate (60 + 40) adjusted to pH 5 as the mobile phase and detected at 234 nm. Peak area ratios of the analytes versus internal standard were used for calibration. The mean recoveries from plasma and urine samples spiked with PQZ and its m-hydroxy metabolite ranged from 97.87 to 103.88%. The relative standard deviation for the within- and between-day analyses were < 4%. The proposed method was applied for the assay of PQZ in laboratory-made tablets.

Analysis of Closely Related Antioxidant Nutraceuticals Using the Green Analytical Methodology of ANN and Smart Spectrophotometric Methods.

Two new, simple, and specific green analytical methods are proposed: zero-crossing first-derivative and chemometric-based spectrophotometric artificial neural network (ANN). The proposed methods were used for the simultaneous estimation of two closely related antioxidant nutraceuticals, coenzyme Q10 (Q10) and vitamin E, in their mixtures and pharmaceutical preparations. The first method is based on the handling of spectrophotometric data with the first-derivative technique, in which both nutraceuticals were determined in ethanol, each at the zero crossing of the other. The amplitudes of the first-derivative spectra for Q10 and vitamin E were recorded at 285 and 235 nm respectively, and correlated with their concentrations. The linearity ranges of Q10 and vitamin E were 10-60 and 5.6-70 µg⋅mL-1, respectively. The second method, ANN, is a multivariate calibration method and it was developed and applied for the simultaneous determination of both analytes. A training set of 90 different synthetic mixtures containing Q10 and vitamin E in the ranges of 0-100 and 0-556 µg⋅mL-1, respectively, was prepared in ethanol. The absorption spectra of the training set were recorded in the spectral region of 230-300 nm. By relating the concentration sets (x-block) with their corresponding absorption data (y-block), gradient-descent back-propagation ANN calibration could be computed. To validate the proposed network, a set of 45 synthetic mixtures of the two drugs was used. Both proposed methods were successfully applied for the assay of Q10 and vitamin E in their laboratory-prepared mixtures and in their pharmaceutical tablets with excellent recovery. These methods offer advantages over other methods because of low-cost equipment, time-saving measures, and environmentally friendly materials. In addition, no chemical separation prior to analysis was needed. The ANN method was superior to the derivative technique because ANN can determine both drugs under nonlinear experimental conditions. Consequently, ANN would be the method of choice in the routine analysis of Q10 and vitamin E tablets. No interference from common pharmaceutical additives was observed. Student's t-test and the F-test were used to compare the two methods. No significant difference was recorded.

Differential pulse, square wave and adsorptive stripping voltammetric quantification of tianeptine in tablets.

Differential pulse polarographic (DPP) and square wave polarographic (SWP) techniques were applied at hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) for quantitative determination of tianeptine (TIA) in tablets. The adsorptive stripping voltammetric (ASV) behavior of TIA was also studied. TIA gave a sensitive reduction peaks at -1256, -1244 and -1072 mV for DPP, SWP and ASV, respectively (versus Ag/AgCl) in Britton-Robinson buffer (B-R buffer) at pH 11. The solution conditions and instrumental parameters were optimized for the determination of TIA in tablets. Calibration plots and regression data validation, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantitation and other aspects of analytical merit are presented.

Polarographic determination of phenytoin and benzophenone (as impurity) in pharmaceutical preparations.

A differential pulse polarographic method is described for detection and trace determination of benzophenone (the main impurity) in phenytoin powder. The method depends upon the polarographic activity of benzophenone in Britton-Robinson buffer pH 5.6. The limit of detection was found to be 2.5 x 10(-6) microg ml(-1). Phenytoin has been analysed polarographically after oxidation with alkaline permanganate to give benzophenone; the limit of detection was found to be 6 x 10(-6) microg ml(-1).

Spectrophotometric and titrimetric determination of nizatidine in capsules.

Four simple and accurate methods are described for the determination of nizatidine (NIZ) in pharmaceutical preparations. The first method is based on the formation of an ion-pair complex between the drug and either of bromocresol purple or picric acid with subsequent measurement of the developed colors at 411 and 400 nm, respectively. The second method depends on the condensation of mixed anhydrides of citric acid/acetic anhydride, with the tertiary amino group of the drug, where the developed color is measured spectrophotometrically at 545 nm. The oxidation of nizatidine by N-bromosuccinimide was utilized as a basis for the titrimetric method for its assay in capsules. The last method depends on the oxidation of nizatidine by ammonium cerium IV sulfate in the presence of perchloric acid with subsequent measurement of the absorbance at 314 nm; this principle is adopted to develop a kinetic method for the determination of NIZ in capsules. All the reaction conditions have been studied. The detection limits were varied from 0.44 to 0.78 microg ml(-1). The proposed methods were successfully applied to the assay of nizatidine in capsules.

Spectrophotometric determination of omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole in pharmaceutical formulations.

The compensation method and other chemometric methods (derivative, orthogonal function and difference spectrophotometry) have been applied to the direct determination of omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole in their pharmaceutical preparations. The methods have been validated; the limits of detection were found to be 3.3x10(-2), 3.0x10(-2) and 3.5x10(-2) microgram ml(-1) for the three drugs, respectively. The repeatabililty of the methods were found to be 0.3-0.5%. The linearity ranges were found to be 0.5-3.5 microgram ml(-1). The proposed methods have been applied to the determination of the three drugs in their grastro-resistant formulations. The difference spectrophotometric (DeltaA) method is unaffected by the presence of acid induced degradation products; hence can be used as a stability indicating assay.

Determination of some histamine H1-receptor antagonists in dosage forms.

Three simple and accurate methods are presented for determination of Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, Loratadine and Acrivastine in pure form and commercial dosage forms. The first method is based on the reaction of the above cited drugs with bromocresol purple dye to form ion-pair complex extractable with chloroform and subsequently measured spectrophotometrically. Secondly, eosin gives with these drugs ion-pair complex, measurable directly without extraction both spectrophotometrically and spectrofluorimetrically. The last method involves the base-catalysed condensation of mixed anhydrides of organic acids (citric acid/acetic anhydride) where as the tertiary amino group in the above-cited drugs acts as the basic catalyst. The product of condensation is measured spectrophotometrically. All the reaction conditions for the proposed methods have been studied.

Spectrophotometric determination of binary mixtures of pseudoephedrine with some histamine H1-receptor antagonists using derivative ratio spectrum method.

A derivative spectrophotometric method is developed for the assay of three binary mixtures of pseudoephedrine with fexofenadine (mix I), cetirizine (mix II) and loratadine (mix III). The method is based on the use of the first derivative of the ratio spectrum. The ratio spectrum was obtained by dividing the absorption spectrum of the mixture by that of one of the components. The concentration of the other component was determined from its respective calibration graph treated similarly. Moreover, the influence of Deltalambda for obtaining the first derivative of the ratio spectra and the effect of the divisor concentration on the calibration graphs were studied. The described method was applied for the determination of these combinations in synthetic mixtures and dosage forms. The results obtained were accurate and precise.