First- order Derivative and UV-spectrophotometric Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and Caffeine in Bulk and Parmaceutical Formulatation

Aims: This work is to develop accurate and simple spectrophotometric methods with the first derivative for estimation of Ibuprofen (IBU), Caffeine (CAF) and Paracetamol (PAR) in bulk and pharmaceutical preparation.

Method: The methods use ethanol 90%: 0.1 N sodium hydroxide (25:75) as a solvent for analysis. The wavelengths were determined for each drug in the range of 200-400 nm in spectrum mode. UV-spectrophotometer-equipment used to calculate the first derivatives through which IBU, CAF, and PAR were evaluated for simultaneous assay. The validity of the methods is established on the basis of linearity, accuracy and precision, limit of detection and limit of quantification. The methods applied to estimate the level of PAR, IBU, and CAF in a capsule dosage form.

Results: The linearity of the methods was in the range of (1 - 15) µg /ml at λ max 220 nm for IBU, for CAF was (1-10) µg /ml at λ max 272 nm, and for PAR was (1-16.5) µg /ml at λ max 257 nm. In the second method, by application of first derivatives, IBU has an absorbance at 212 NM (in contrast CAF and PAR have zero value at is this wavelength) whereas, CAF absorbed at 272 nm (in contract IBU and PAR have zero value at this wavelength) whereas PAR has absorbance at 230 nm (in contrast IBU and CAF has zero value). Upon derivative assay, the amount was 98.58 %, 98.15% and 98.66% for PAR, IBU, and CAF, respectively.

Conclusion: The suggested methods can be effectively applied for simultaneous determination of IBU, CAF and PAR in the bulk and capsule dosage form with good precision, recovery and less percentage of error.