Cephalothin: Review of Characteristics, Properties, and Status of Analytical Methods

Abstract

Background Cephalothin (CET), a first generation cephalosporin, is the most efficient cephalosporin against resistant microorganisms. Many studies found in literature and pharmacopeias proposes analytical methods and, as most commonly, HPLC and microbiological assays. Objective This paper shows a brief review of analytical method to quantify CET with a green analytical chemistry approach. Methods The research data were collected from the literature and official compendia. Results Most of the analytical methods to determine CET were performed by HPLC and agar diffusion in pharmaceuticals, blood, urine or water. Other analytical methods were found, as UV, Vis, iodometry, fluorimetry, IR/Raman, electrochemical among others, but, in less quantity. One important aspect is that these methods use organic and toxic solvents like methanol and acetonitrile, and only about 4% of the methods found uses water as solvent. Conclusions In this way, researches about analytical methods focused on green analytical chemistry for CET are of great importance and very relevant to optimize its analysis in pharmaceutical industries and to guarantee the quality of the product. More than just the development of new techniques it is possible to enhance of the ones that already exists applying the green analytical chemistry principles. In this way, it will be possible to reduce the environment impacts caused by these analytical procedures. Highlights This work shows a brief review of literature and pharmacopeias of analytical methods to quantify CET. Its quality control can be updated to meet the needs of current analytical chemistry and to fit into sustainable and eco-friendly analyzes.