A comparative UV−HPLC analysis of ten brands of ibuprofen tablets

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Sylvester Okhuelegbe Eraga, Mathew Ikhuoria Arhewoh, Rosemary Ngozi Chibuogwu, Magnus Amara Iwuagwu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015
• Subjects: HPLC; Analysis; Ibuprofen; Pharmaceutical equivalence; Label claim; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.06.005; https://doaj.org/article/00805740ce2e41e2b53a6d08fa078e0a

Objective: To investigate the pharmaceutical equivalence of ten brands of ibuprofen tablets (400 mg) purchased from pharmacies in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: The drug samples were subjected to uniformity of weight, crushing strength, friability, melting point, disintegration and dissolution tests following acceptable and official protocols. The ibuprofen content was determined using UV and high performance liquid chromatography method. Results: Crushing strength values of the drug samples ranged between 6 and 16 kp while the disintegration times were between 7.43 and 10.40 min (for uncoated tablets) and 3.25–37.32 min (for coated tablets). Friability values were less than 1% and the melting points of recrystallized ibuprofen from the samples ranged from 73.5 to 76.0 °C. The amount of ibuprofen released within 1 h ranged between 18% and 102% and two brands failed the content of active ingredient in the UV method of assay while all the brands passed the test using HPLC. Conclusions: Ibuprofen (400 mg) tablets marketed in Benin City, Nigeria vary in pharmaceutical quality.