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/
the sample beam. The calibration curve relating the DA
at 273 nm to AC concentration was constructed.
2.5.5.2. Assay of prepared mixtures. The specified HPLC
method was followed for the analysis of laboratory
prepared mixtures containing different ratios of aceclo-
fenac and its degradate. The peak area values for
aceclofenac were measured then the concentration of
aceclofenac in the prepared mixtures was calculated
from the regression equation.
2.5.3.2. Assay of prepared mixtures. The DA spectra of
the laboratory-prepared mixtures containing different
ratios of AC and its degradate were recorded. The peak
amplitude at 273 nm was measured, and then the
concentration of aceclofenac in the prepared mixtures
was calculated from the regression equation. Results
obtained are given in Table 1.
2.5.6. Assay of pharmaceutical formulation
The contents of ten tablets of Bristaflam† were
thoroughly powdered and mixed, an amount of the
powder equivalent to 100 mg of AC was accurately
weighed in 250 ml beaker, 70 ml of absolute ethanol was
added, stirred magnetically for about 30 min then
filtered through a filter paper into a 100 ml volumetric
flask, the beaker and the funnel were washed and the
volume was completed with absolute ethanol. The
solutions were diluted to the same concentrations of
working standard solutions and treated according to
linearity for each method.
2.5.4. Method D, spectrodensitometric method
2.5.4.1. Linearity. Accurate aliquots equivalent to (0.5ꢀ
/
2 mg) of aceclofenac were transferred from its working
standard solution (0.5 mg/ml) to a series of 10 ml
volumetric flasks then the volume was completed with
ethanol. 10 ml of each solution was applied to a thin
layer chromatographic plate (20ꢂ20 cm) using 10 ml
/
micro syringe. Spots were spaced 2 cm apart from each
other, 1.5 cm from the bottom edge of the plate, the
plate was placed in chromatographic tank previously
saturated for 1 h with the developing mobile phase
Tetrahydrofuran: methanol (90:10 v/v). The plate was
developed by ascending chromatography through a
distance of 16 cm, dried at room temperature (r.t.); the
spots were detected under UV lamp, and scanned at 275
nm. (Photomode: reflection and scan mode: zigzag). The
calibration curve representing the relationship between
the recorded area under the peak and the corresponding
concentration was constructed.
3. Results and discussion
Aceclofenac is liable to alkaline hydrolysis. The main
degradation product of AC; ‘diclofenac’ [1]; was pre-
pared in the laboratory by complete alkaline hydrolysis
of aceclofenac. This was achieved by reflux with 1 N
sodium hydroxide for 3 h. Heating with sulphuric acid
at 90 8C leads to decomposition of glycolic acid into
formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and water [9].
3.1. Method A, third derivative UV-spectrophotometric
method
2.5.4.2. Assay of prepared mixtures. About 10 ml of
different samples of the laboratory prepared mixtures
were applied to a thin layer chromatographic plate;
proceed as mentioned under linearity starting from
‘Spots were spaced. . .’. The area under the peak was
recorded and the concentration of AC was calculated
from the regression equation. Results obtained are given
in Table 1.
Zero order absorption spectra of aceclofenac and its
degradate in absolute ethanol show severe overlapping
which interferes with the direct determination of pure
aceclofenac (Fig. 1).
Derivative UV spectrophotometry has been first
suggested during the last decade and soon became a
well-established technique for the analysis of drugs in
mixtures and in formulations [6]. The principle advan-
tage of derivative spectrophotometry is the improve-
ment of resolution of overlapping absorption bands, the
accuracy and precision of UV absorption methods are
considerably improved, and therefore derivative spec-
troscopy has been used in quantitative analysis when the
analyte to be determined is present in admixture with
other components [7].
The first (D1) and second (D2) derivative spectro-
photometric techniques were not able to overcome this
overlapping.
As shown in Fig. 2, it is clear that the overlapping
observed in the zero order absorption spectra was
eliminated and sharply defined, well separated peak at
2.5.5. Method E, RP-HPLC method
2.5.5.1. Linearity. Accurate aliquots equivalent to (10ꢀ
/
500 mg/ml) of aceclofenac working standard solution
(100 mg/ml) were transferred into a series of 10 ml
volumetric flasks. Methanol: water (60:40 v/v) was
added to volume to give a final concentration range
from 1 to 50 mg/ml. Twenty ml of the solution from each
of the above was injected and the chromatograms were
recorded maintaining the flow rate at 1 ml/min and
monitoring the effluent at 230 nm. Peak area values were
then plotted as a function of aceclofenac concentration
to obtain the calibration curve.