DETERMINATION OF PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS USING SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD

Abstract

Objective: A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been presented for the determination of phenylephrine hydrochloride by coupling reaction with diazotized sulfacetamide sodium. Methods: The method is based on the diazotization reaction of sulfacetamide sodium with sodium nitrite in the presence of hydrochloric acid to form diazonium salt, which is coupled with the drug in alkaline medium to form azo dye, showing absorption maxima at 425 nm. Results: Calibration plot was linear over the concentration range of 2–24 μg/mL and detection limit of 0.278 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9929. All different chemical and physical experimental parameters affecting on the development and stability of the colored product were carefully studied. Conclusions: The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of phenylephrine in nasal drops with good precision and sensitivity.