Simultaneous Determination of N-Butylscopolamine and Oxazepam in Pharmaceutical Formulations by First-Order Digital Derivative Spectrophotometry
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TORAL ET AL.: JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 88, NO. 4, 2005 1173 DRUGS, COSMETICS, FORENSIC SCIENCES Simultaneous Determination of N-Butylscopolamine and Oxazepam in Pharmaceutical Formulations by First-Order Digital Derivative Spectrophotometry MARIA INÉS TORAL,MARCELO A. MUÑOZ,andSANDRA L. ORELLANA University of Chile, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, PO Box 653, Santiago, Chile Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jaoac/article/88/4/1173/5657450 by guest on 24 September 2021 A simple method has been developed for the In the case of oxazepam, various analytical methods have simultaneous determination of N-butylscopolamine been developed, which include the use of liquid bromide and oxazepam in pharmaceutical chromatography (LC; 2, 3), LC with mass spectrometry formulations using first-order digital derivative (LC/MS; 4), gas chromatograpy/MS (GC/MS; 5, 6), GC/ion spectrophotometry. Acetonitrile was selected as trap tandem mass spectrometry (TMS; 7), micellar-LC (8), the solvent in which both compounds showed CE-electrospray mass spectrometry (EMS; 9), derivative UV well-defined bands. Both analytes showed good spectrophotometry (10), and other techniques. In contrast, stability in this solvent when solutions of the N-butylscopolamine has been determinated only by using LC analytes were exposed to light and temperatures (11). Nevertheless, no methodologies have been reported for between 20° and 80°C. The simultaneous the simultaneous determination of oxazepam and determination of both drugs was performed by the N-butylscopolamine. zero-crossing method at 226.0 and 257.0 nm for Because derivative spectrophotometry has been N-butylscopolamine and oxazepam, respectively. successfully used in the determination of mixtures of drugs in The linear range of determination was found to be pharmaceutical formulations (12–14), we developed a simple, –7 –5 2.5 ´ 10 to 8.0 ´ 10 mol/L for rapid, accurate, and inexpensive method using first-order –8 N-butylscopolamine and 7.1 ´ 10 to 8.0 ´ digital derivative spectrophotometry for the simultaneous –5 10 mol/L for oxazepam. A very good level of determination of oxazepam and N-butylscopolamine. Our repeatability (relative standard deviation) of 0.2% work included selection of the best solvent for the analysis, was observed for N-butylscopolamine and optimization of the chemical and spectral variables, and a oxazepam. The ingredients commonly found in stability study of the drugs when exposed to different pharmaceutical formulations do not interfere. The conditions of light and temperature. The proposed method proposed method was applied to the determination was successfully applied to simulated and commercial of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations pharmaceutical formulations (capsules). (capsules). Experimental -butylscopolamine bromide (I) is a quaternary form of Instrumentation the tropane alkaloid (-)-scopolamine. Scopolamine N A Shimadzu (Shimadzu Co., Kyoto, Japan) UV-1603 and its derivatives are anticholinergic drugs with spectrophotometer with 10 mm quartz cells was used for antispasmodic properties that are frequently used as measurement of the absorbance and derivative absorption endoscopic premedications to inhibit digestive tract spectra. For all the tested solutions, the first-derivative spectra motility (1). were recorded over a range of 190–400 nm versus solvent by Oxazepam (II) is part of a well-known group of using slit width values and sampling intervals of 2.0 and 0.2 compounds with the 1,4-benzodiazepine-2-one basic nm, respectively. A scan speed of 480 nm/min was also used. structure. Benzodiazepines are widely used to treat symptoms The spectral data were processed by Shimadzu kit version 3.7 of emotional stress symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and (P/N 206-60570-04) software. All solid samples were irritability (1). In combination, N-butylscopolamine and weighed to within ± 0.01 mg by using a Sartorius R 200D oxazepam exhibit a tranquilizing antispasmodic effect balance. suitable for the treatment of abdominal and gynecological pathologies. Reagents All reagents were analytical grade. Received November 3, 2004. Accepted by JM December 22, 2004. (a) N-butylscopolamine bromide (I).—99.9%. Purchased Corresponding author's e-mail: [email protected]. from Sigma (St. Louis, MO). 1174 TORAL ET AL.: JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 88, NO. 4, 2005 the presence of I and II at 3.0 ´ 10–5 mol/L. In all cases, the corresponding absolute values of the first-derivative spectra at 226.0 nm for I and 257.0 nm for II were obtained and plotted versus the corresponding concentrations. Procedure for Simultaneous Determination of I and II in Simulated Mixtures with Different Mass Ratios Stock solutions of each compound were prepared in acetonitrile, and aliquots were appropriately diluted to obtain solutions with mass ratios of the analytes between 1:4 and 4:1. For each solution 5 replicates were made. Then, the first-derivative spectra were evaluated, and the concentration Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jaoac/article/88/4/1173/5657450 by guest on 24 September 2021 of each compound was calculated, allowing the determination Figure 1. Structures of N-butylscopolamine (I) and of the corresponding values for recovery and relative standard oxazepam (II). deviation (RSD). Procedure for Stability Studies of I and II When (b) Oxazepam (II).—99.6%. Laboratorios Andrómaco Exposed to Changes in Light and Temperature (Santiago, Chile). (c) Stock solutions of I and II at 1.0 ´ 10–3 Stock solutions of a mixture of I and II with a concentration –5 mol/L.—Prepared by dissolving 22 and 14 mg compound, of 4.0 ´ 10 mol/L for each compound in acetonitrile were respectively, in acetonitrile and diluting to 50 mL. used in stability to changes in light and temperature. In the (d) Other ranges of concentrations.—Prepared by case of the light studies, the solutions were exposed to direct appropriate dilution with the same solvent. The light, indirect light, and darkness, and the first-derivative pharmaceutical product Novalona (Laboratorios Andrómaco) spectra were evaluated 9 times during a period of 24 h. For the containing both compounds was also dissolved in the same temperature studies, the solutions were kept in a water bath at solvent. Furthermore, to conduct a study of solvent effects on 20°,30°,40°,50°,60°,70°, and 80°C and the first-derivative spectral behavior, stock solutions of I and II at 1.0 ´ 10–3 spectra were evaluated after 10 min. mol/L were prepared by dissolving the same amounts described above in different solvents. Procedure for Simultaneous Determination of I and (e) Other concentration ranges.—Prepared by II in Pharmaceutical Formulations (Capsules) appropriate dilution with the respective solvent. The contents of various capsules of Novalona were Calibration Procedure for Determination of I and II in weighed and powdered. A quantity of 369 mg powder was Mixtures weighed, dissolved in acetonitrile, and diluted to 50 mL with Aliquots of the stock solutions of I and II were acetonitrile. The solution was shaken for 20 min and simultaneously diluted with acetonitrile over the centrifuged. A 200 mL aliquot of the supernatant was diluted concentration range 1.0 ´ 10–5 to 5.0 ´ 10–5 mol/L. The with acetonitrile to 10 mL, and the solution was evaluated by calibration procedure was performed for each compound in first-derivative spectrophotometry. Figure 2. Zero-order spectra of (a) N-butylscopolamine and (b) oxazepam in (A) acetonitrile, (B) methanol, and (C) ethanol. TORAL ET AL.: JOURNAL OF AOAC INTERNATIONAL VOL. 88, NO. 4, 2005 1175 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jaoac/article/88/4/1173/5657450 by guest on 24 September 2021 Figure 3. (a) First,- (b) second-, (c) third-, and (d) fourth-derivative spectra of (I) N-butylscopolamine and (II) oxazepam. Results and Discussion complex systems, allowing simultaneous determination. The spectral variables were optimized to improve the analytical The structures of I and II are quite different (Figure 1). I has methodology and obtain the best analytical features. an a unsubstituted phenyl ring and an ester carbonyl and (a) Selection of derivative order.—The first-, second-, shows a strong absorption between 190 and 250 nm in the third-, and fourth-derivative spectra were obtained from the classical UV spectrum as expected. In contrast, II has a much zero-order spectra by using digital differentiation (Figure 3). more complicated p-system consisting of a chloro-substituted Figure 3, a and b, shows that the first and second derivatives diazepine ring and a phenyl ring, both conjugated with a could be used for the simultaneous determination of I and II, double bond in the main structure. This more complicated because in both cases the derivative presents characteristic system is evident in the classical UV spectrum, where 3 zones for each compound, which can be used for analytical different bands are found between 190 and 350 nm. purposes. When the derivative order increases, the sensitivity decreases. In this context, when the first derivative is used, the Solvent Effect on the Spectra simultaneous determination can be achieved easily, because To improve the quality of the analytical method, the the spectra present well-defined zones for determination of spectral behavior of both compounds at a concentration of 4.0 ´ 10–5 mol/L was studied in the following solvents: chloroform, 1-2-dichloroethane, methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile. Chlorinated solvents were eliminated because of the high amount of overlap from analyte and solvent bands. On the other hand, well-defined bands were obtained for both compounds in ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile (Figure 2). Acetonitrile was selected over the alcohols because the bands had better resolution, especially in the case of I. Also, acetonitrile demonstrated better analytical features like low volatility. Spectral Behavior and Selection of Spectral Variables The spectral behavior of I and II does not permit the simultaneous determination of both drugs by using classical Figure 4. First-derivative spectra of (I) spectrophotometry because of overlapping bands.