Application of HPTLC-densitometry by Derivatization and Stability Indicating LC for Simultaneous Determination of Mefloquine Hydrochloride and Artesunate in Combined Dosage form

This paper presents simultaneous quantification of mefloquine hydrochloride (MEFQ) and artesunate (ARTS) by HPTLC and RP-HPLC methods in combined tablet formulation. In RP-HPLC method, the drugs were resolved using a mobile phase of methanol-phosphate buffer (70:30, v/v) with pH adjusted to 3.2 using phosphoric acid on Symmetry C18 (250 × 4.6 mm and 5 µm) column in isocratic mode. Quantification was achieved with UV detection at 220 nm for MEFQ and 313 nm for ARTS based on peak area with linear calibration curves at concentration ranges of 12.5–75.0 and 2.5–15 µg/mL for MEFQ and ARTS respectively. In HPTLC method, the chromatograms were developed using a mobile phase of toluene-ethyl acetate-acetone (2.5:1.0:0.5, v/v/v) in pre-coated plate of silica gel 60 F254. It is a single method with two steps in which after the development of chromatogram, MEFQ was detected at 285 nm. Then ARTM was derivatized and detected at 525 nm. Recovery values of 97.36–98.80%, %RSD <2 and r value >0.9994 shows that the developed methods were accurate and precise. In HPLC, the binary drug mixture was exposed to thermal, photolytic, acid, alkali and oxidative stress. The methods distinctly separated the drugs and degradation products even in actual samples. In conclusion, the proposed HPLC and HPTLC methods were simple, precise, rapid and accurate. Both methods have the potential to determine these drugs simultaneously from dosage forms without any interference of excipients.