Danica Agbaba

HPLC assay of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine and phenobarbital in tablets

This paper present a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine and phenobarbital in tablets, using chromatographic system consisting a Bio Rad 18 01 solvent pump, Rheodine 71 25 injector and Bio Rad 18 01 UV-Vis Detector. Separation was achieved using Bio SiL HL C18, 5 microm, 250 x 4.6 mm column. Mixture of acetonitrile-water (25:75 v/v) adjusted to pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid was used as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 2.0 ml min(-1). UV detection was at 207 nm range 0.01 AUFS. Under the same conditions it was possible to determine the level of salicylic acid. The chromatographic parameters such as retention times, capacity factor, peak asymmetry, selectivity factor and resolution factor was determined. The validation parameters: linearity (r > 0.998), intra-day precision (RSD: 0.36-1.89%) and inter-day precision (RSD: 0.58-2.18%), sensitivity (LOD: 9 x 10(-5)-1.7 x 10(-4) mg ml(-1) and LOQ: 2.5 x 10(-4)-5.6 x 10(-4) mg ml(-1)), accuracy (recoveries: 98.35-99.14%) and reproducibility (recovery values: 98.74-102.08% for acetylsalicylic acid, 99.93-102.11% for paracetamol, 98.25-102.12% for caffeine and 98.15-102.3% for phenobarbital) (RSD: 1.21-1.85%) were found to be satisfactory. The proposed HPLC method has been applied for the determination of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine and phenobarbital in Malophenum tablets. The obtained RSD values were within 0.99-1.21%. The developed method is rapid and sensitive and therefore suitable for routine control of these drugs in dosage form.

HPTLC determination of ceftriaxone, cefixime and cefotaxime in dosage forms

The objective of this investigation was to develop a HPTLC method for the determination of ceftriaxone, cefixime and cefotaxime, cephalosporins widely used in clinical practice. High performance TLC of cephalosporins was performed on pre-coated silica gel HPTLC plates with concentrating zone (2.5 x 10 cm) by development in mobile phase ethyl acetate-acetone-methanol-water (5:2.5:2.5:1.5 v/v/v/v). A TLC scanner set at 270 nm was used for direct evaluation of the chromatograms in reflectance/absorbance mode. The calibration curves were established as dependence of peak height (linear and polynomial regression) and peak area (polynomial regression) versus ng level (125-500 ng for all cephalosporins investigated). Relative standard deviations obtained from calibration curves was compared. Precision (RSD: 1.12-2.91% (peak height versus ng) and RSD: 1.05-2.75% (peak area versus ng)), and detection limits (ng level) was validated and found to be satisfactory. The method was found to be reproducible and convenient for quantitative analysis of ceftriaxone, cefixime and cefotaxime in their raw materials and their dosage forms.

First-order UV-derivative spectrophotometry in the analysis of omeprazole and pantoprazole sodium salt and corresponding impurities

The first-order UV-derivative spectrophotometry, applying zero-crossing method was developed for the determination of omeprazole (OM), omeprazole sulphone (OMS), pantoprazole sodium salt (PANa), and N-methylpantoprazole (NPA) in methanol-ammonia 4.0% v/v, where the sufficient spectra resolutions of drug and corresponding impurity were obtained, using the amplitudes 1D(304), 1D(307), 1D(291.5) and 1D(296.5), respectively. Method showed good linearity in the ranges (microg ml(-1)): 1.61-17.2 for OM; 2.15-21.50 for OMS; 2.13-21.30 for PANa and 2.0-20.0 for NPA, accuracy and precision (repeatability and reproducibility). The experimentally determined values of LOD (microg ml(-1)) were 1.126; 0.76; 0.691 and 0.716 for OM, OMS, PANa and NPA, respectively. The obtained values of 2.91% w/w for OMS and 3.58% w/w for NPA in the presence of their parent drug, by applying the method of standard additions, point out the usage of the proposed method in stability studies. Zero-crossing method in the first-order derivative spectrophotometry showed the impurity-drug intermolecular interactions, due to the possible intermolecular hydrogen bonds, confirmed by divergences of experimentally obtained amplitudes for impurities OMS and NPA in comparison to expected values according to regression equations of calibration graphs.

Design, synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, QSAR analysis, molecular modeling and ADMET of novel donepezil–indolyl hybrids as multipotent cholinesterase/monoamine oxidase inhibitors for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease

The design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of donepezil-indolyl based amines 7-10, amides 12-16, and carboxylic acid derivatives 5 and 11, as multipotent ASS234 analogs, able to inhibit simultaneously cholinesterase (ChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes for the potential treatment of Alzheimers disease (AD), is reported. Theoretical studies using 3D-Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (3D-QSAR) was used to define 3D-pharmacophores for inhibition of MAO A/B, AChE, and BuChE enzymes. We found that, in general, and for the same substituent, amines are more potent ChE inhibitors (see compounds 12, 13 versus 7 and 8) or equipotent (see compounds 14, 15 versus 9 and 10) than the corresponding amides, showing a clear EeAChE inhibition selectivity. For the MAO inhibition, amides were not active, and among the amines, compound 14 was totally MAO A selective, while amines 15 and 16 were quite MAO A selective. Carboxylic acid derivatives 5 and 11 showed a multipotent moderate selective profile as EeACE and MAO A inhibitors. Propargylamine 15 [N-((5-(3-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)propoxy)-1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)methyl)prop-2-yn-1-amine] resulted in the most potent hMAO A (IC50 = 5.5 ± 1.4 nM) and moderately potent hMAO B (IC50 = 150 ± 31 nM), EeAChE (IC50 = 190 ± 10 nM), and eqBuChE (IC50 = 830 ± 160 nM) inhibitor. However, the analogous N-allyl and the N-morpholine derivatives 16 and 14 deserve also attention as they show an attractive multipotent profile. To sum up, donepezil-indolyl hybrid 15 is a promising drug for further development for the potential prevention and treatment of AD.

Multitarget compounds bearing tacrine- and donepezil-like structural and functional motifs for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimers disease is a multifactorial and fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by decline of cholinergic function, deregulation of other neurotransmitter systems, β-amyloid fibril deposition, and β-amyloid oligomers formation. Based on the involvement of a relevant number of biological systems in Alzheimers disease progression, multitarget compounds may enable therapeutic efficacy. Accordingly, compounds possessing, besides anticholinergic activity and β-amyloid aggregation inhibition properties, metal chelating and/or nitric oxide releasing properties with additional antioxidant capacity were developed. Other targets relevant to Alzheimers disease have also been considered in the last years for producing multitarget compounds such as β-secretase, monoamino oxidases, serotonin receptors and sigma 1 receptors. The purpose of this review will be to highlight recent reports on the development of multitarget compounds for Alzheimers disease published within the last years focusing on multifunctional ligands characterized by tacrine-like and donepezil-like structures.

Investigation of surfactant/cosurfactant synergism impact on ibuprofen solubilization capacity and drug release characteristics of nonionic microemulsions

The current study investigates the performances of the multicomponent mixtures of nonionic surfactants regarding the microemulsion stabilisation, drug solubilization and in vitro drug release kinetic. The primary surfactant was PEG-8 caprylic/capric glycerides (Labrasol). The cosurfactants were commercially available mixtures of octoxynol-12 and polysorbate 20 without or with the addition of PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil (Solubilisant gamma 2421 and Solubilisant gamma 2429, respectively). The oil phase of microemulsions was isopropyl myristate. Phase behaviour study of the pseudo-ternary systems Labrasol/cosurfactant/oil/water at surfactant-to-cosurfactant weight ratios (K(m)) 40:60, 50:50 and 60:40, revealed a strong synergism in the investigated tensides mixtures for stabilisation of microemulsions containing up to 80% (w/w) of water phase at surfactant +cosurfactant-to-oil weight ratio (SCoS/O) 90:10. Solubilization of a model drug ibuprofen in concentration common for topical application (5%, w/w) was achieved at the water contents below 50% (w/w). Drug free and ibuprofen-loaded microemulsions M1-M6, containing 45% (w/w) of water phase, were prepared and characterized by polarized light microscopy, conductivity, pH, rheological and droplet size measurements. In vitro ibuprofen release kinetics from the microemulsions was investigated using paddle-over-enhancer cell method and compared with the commercial 5% (w/w) ibuprofen hydrogel product (Deep Relief, Mentholatum Company Ltd., USA). The investigated microemulsions were isotropic, low viscous Bingham-type liquids with the pH value (4.70-6.61) suitable for topical application. The different efficiency of the tensides mixtures for microemulsion stabilisation was observed, depending on the cosurfactant type and K(m) value. Solubilisant gamma 2429 as well as higher K(m) (i.e., lower relative content of the cosurfactant) provided higher surfactant/cosurfactant synergism. The drug molecules were predominantly solubilized within the interface film. The amount of drug released from the formulations M3 (10.75%, w/w) and M6 (13.45%, w/w) (K(m) 60:40) was limited in comparison with the reference (22.22%, w/w) and follows the Higuchi model. Microemulsions M2 and M5 (K(m) 50:50) gave zero order drug release pattern and ∼15% (w/w) ibuprofen released. The release profiles from microemulsions M1 and M4 (K(m) 40:60) did not fit well with the models used for analysis, although the amounts of ibuprofen released (24.47%, w/w) and 17.99% (w/w), respectively) were comparable to that of the reference hydrogel. The drug release mechanism was related with the surfactant/cosurfactant synergism, thus the lower efficiency of the tensides corresponded to the faster drug release.

UV derivative spectrophotometric study of the photochemical degradation of nisoldipine.

The photodecomposition of nisoldipine ((+/-)3-isobutyl-5-methyl-1,4- dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate), whereby its 4-(2-nitrosophenyl) pyridine analogue is obtained as the photolytic product, was investigated under daylight exposure by means of UV derivative spectrophotometry. The optimal instrumental parameters (120 nm/min scan speed; 2 nm slit width; delta gamma = 10 nm and 5 s response time) for analogue derivative spectra were established for amplitudes 1D285 and 2D291 (measured to the baseline) of the nitroso analogue assay, as well as for 1D386 of the parent compound-nisoldipine assay. Using the first-order derivative spectrum, the minimum detectable amount of nitroso analogue in the presence of nisoldipine was equivalent to an impurity level of 5% and by the second-order derivative spectrum, the determination limit was equivalent to an impurity level of 2%. The degradation of nisoldipine followed within 30 days and the calculated maximal degradation rate was 1.6% per day for nisoldipine raw material, but significantly lower values of 0.19 and 0.15% per day were obtained for Nisoldin tablets (10 and 5 mg, respectively).

Ultra-thin-layer chromatography mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography mass spectrometry of single peptides of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

The separation of structurally related angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lisinopril, cilazapril, ramipril and quinapril and their corresponding active diacid forms (prilates) by conventional TLC silica gel 60 plates was contrasted with that afforded by monolithic ultra-thin-layer chromatographic (UTLC) plates. For the use of UTLC plates technical modifications of the commercially available equipments for the sample application, development and detection were made. Plates were developed in modified horizontal developing chamber using ethyl acetate-acetone-acetic acid-water (4:1:0.25:0.5, v/v). Detection of the separated compounds was performed densitometrically in absorption/reflectance mode at 220 nm and after exposure to iodine also by image analysis. The obtained results showed that monolithic layer is more efficient for the separation of structurally similar polar compounds, such as prilates than conventional silica layers. Identification of the compounds was confirmed by ESI-MS after their on-line extraction from the UTLC and TLC plates by means of Camag TLC-MS interface.

Acid–base equilibria and solubility of loratadine and desloratadine in water and micellar media

Acid-base equilibria in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems of two antihistaminics, loratadine and desloratadine were studied spectrophotometrically in Britton-Robinsons buffer at 25 degrees C. Acidity constant of loratadine was found to be pK(a) 5.25 and those of desloratadine pK(a1) 4.41 and pK(a2) 9.97. The values of intrinsic solubilities of loratadine and desloratadine were 8.65x10(-6) M and 3.82x10(-4) M, respectively. Based on the pK(a) values and intrinsic solubilities, solubility curves of these two drugs as a function of pH were calculated. The effects of anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants applied in the concentration exceeding critical micelle concentration (cmc) on acid-base properties of loratadine and desloratadine, as well as on intrinsic solubility of loratadine were also examined. The results revealed a shift of pK(a) values in micellar media comparing to the values obtained in water. These shifts (DeltapK(a)) ranged from -2.24 to +1.24.

N-methyl-N-((1-methyl-5-(3-(1-(2-methylbenzyl)piperidin-4-yl)propoxy)-1H-indol-2-yl)methyl)prop-2-yn-1-amine, a new cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase dual inhibitor

On the basis of N-((5-(3-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)propoxy)-1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)methyl)-N-methylprop-2-yn-1-amine (II, ASS234) and QSAR predictions, in this work we have designed, synthesized, and evaluated a number of new indole derivatives from which we have identified N-methyl-N-((1-methyl-5-(3-(1-(2-methylbenzyl)piperidin-4-yl)propoxy)-1H-indol-2-yl)methyl)prop-2-yn-1-amine (2, MBA236) as a new cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase dual inhibitor.