TLC-densitometric determination of azithromycin in pharmaceutical preparations

Abstract

A thin-layer chromatographic method with densitometric detection has been established for quantification of azithromycin in pharmaceutical preparations. Silica gel plates with fluorescence indicator F 254 were used with chloroform-ethanol-ammonia 6:14:0.2 ( v/v ) as mobile phase. Chromatograms were visualized by spraying with 1:4 ( v/v ) sulfuric acid-ethanol and heating at 120C for 5 min. Scanning and densitometric analysis was performed at 483 nm. The RF of azithromycin under these conditions was 0.53. The method was characterized by high sensitivity (LOD = 40 ng/zone and LOQ = 80 ng/zone), wide linear range (from 0.08 to 1.2 μg/zone, r = 0.9965), and high precision, accuracy (mean percentage recovery 102.73%), and specificity.