Comparative Chromatographic and Spectrophotometric Methods for Quantitative Estimation of Paracetamol in Analgesic Tablet Dosage Forms

Abstract

Poor quality drugs pose a challenge to many countries especially the developing countries. This present study is a scientific approach to further combat medicines counterfeiting as well as the validation of claimed drug specification on labels. This was achieved by comparing two analytical methods viz; spectrophotometric (UV-Vis) and Chromatographic (HPLC) techniques for quantification of Paracetamol (4-acetamidophenol) in selected analgesics marketed in Lafia, Nigeria. The statistical validation parameters such as linearity and methodic error (accuracy, precision) tests were verified and reported in terms of deviation and significance. The tagged 500 mg/tab Paracetamol concentrations for procured Para-P, X, Y and Z were estimated to range between 505.62-570.70 mg/tab and 459.42-512.58 mg/tab using UV-Visible and HPLC respectively. It was reported that experimental paracetamol concentration compares well with the claimed label specification and are within limits prescribed by existing legislation. From results in this study, deviations in API's concentration values between the two techniques are reasonable but of no statistical significance.