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A Versatile HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Bromhexine, Guaifenesin, Ambroxol, Salbutamol/Terbutaline, Pseudoephedrine, Triprolidine, and Chlorpheniramine Maleate in Cough–Cold Syrups

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Abstract

A simple, rapid, isocratic, and versatile liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of bromhexine, guaifenesin, ambroxol, salbutamol/terbutaline, pseudoephedrine, triprolidine, and chlorpheniramine maleate in cough–cold syrups commonly marketed in Kenya. Separation was achieved using a Gemini® NX C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) maintained at 40 °C and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.25 M sodium hexanesulphonate-0.2 M ammonium acetate, and pH 3.0-water (35:4:10:51, % v/v/v/v) delivered at 1.0 mL min−1. The eluents were monitored by means of UV detection at 254 nm. During validation, the method satisfied the International Committee on Harmonization acceptance criteria for linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and robustness. The developed liquid chromatographic method was applied in the analysis of nine commercial samples obtained from Nairobi City County, Kenya. Extraction procedures were not applied during the assay of the samples, thus significantly shortening the analysis time.

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Acknowledgments

The work presented in this paper was part of Master of Pharmacy thesis of PNM, University of Nairobi (2011). The authors wish to thank the University of Nairobi for financial support and the Management of the National Quality Control Laboratory for providing the necessary equipment to perform this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya

    Paul M. Njaria, Kennedy O. Abuga & Franco N. Kamau

  2. National Quality Control Laboratory, P. O. Box 29726-00202, Nairobi, Kenya

    Paul M. Njaria & Hezekiah K. Chepkwony

Authors
  1. Paul M. Njaria
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  2. Kennedy O. Abuga
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  3. Franco N. Kamau
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  4. Hezekiah K. Chepkwony
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Correspondence to Kennedy O. Abuga.

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Njaria, P.M., Abuga, K.O., Kamau, F.N. et al. A Versatile HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Bromhexine, Guaifenesin, Ambroxol, Salbutamol/Terbutaline, Pseudoephedrine, Triprolidine, and Chlorpheniramine Maleate in Cough–Cold Syrups. Chromatographia 79, 1507–1514 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-016-3158-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-016-3158-1

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