New UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Methods for the Determination of Levetiracetam in Bulk and Pharmaceutical Formulation

 

S. Ganapathy, G.V.H. Raju*, D.G. Sankar and Pettla Y. Naidu

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003

*Corresponding Author E-mail: gadepalli_raj@yahoo.com

 

ABSTRACT:

A three simple, sensitive and reproducible UV-Visible spectrophotometric methods (Method A to Method C) are developed for the determination of Levetiracetam (LEVT) in pure and dosage forms. Method A is based on the formation of colored species on treatment of Levetiracetam (LEVT) with 3-Methyl-2-benzo thiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) and Cerric Ammonium Sulphate (CAS). Method B is based on the formation of colored species on treatment of Levetiracetam(LEVT) with Fecl3 and 1,10 PTL. Method C represents UV Spectrophotometric determination of Levetiracetam and its dosage forms in Methanol at 210nm.

 


 

INTRODUCTION:

Levetiracetam is a anticonvulsant drug used in the treatment of epilepsy. It is S-enantiomer of etiracetam, structurally similar to the prototypical nootropic drug piracetam. Along with other anticonvulsants like gabapentin it is also sometimes used in the treatment of neuropathic pain Levetiracetam is a white to off-white crystalline powder with a faint odor and a bitter taste. It is very soluble in water. It is freely soluble in chloroform and in methanol, soluble in ethanol, sparingly soluble in acetonitrile and practically insoluble in n-hexane.

 

The chemical name of levetiracetam, a single enantiomer, is (-)-(S)-α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, its molecular formula is C8H14N2O2 and its molecular weight is 170.211-4

 

It is official in US pharmacopoeia and no UV Visible spectrophotometric analytical reports are found in literature for its quantitative estimation in bulk and tablet dosage forms. In the present investigation a three simple, sensitive and reproducible UV-Visible spectrophotometric methods are developed for the determination of Levetiracetam (LEVT) in pure and its dosage forms using MBTH- Fecl3  and Fecl3 -1,10PTL. In Method A the formation colored species is due to the Oxidative Coupling reaction with MBTH in Presence of Fecl3 to form a green Colored complex having λmax at 630nm. In Method B the formation of Colored species having λmax  at  510nm is due to reaction of Reduced Ferric ion to Ferrous ion with 1,10 Phenanthorline. Method C represents determination of Levetiracetam and its dosage forms in methanol which is having absorption maxima at 210nm.

 

EXPERIMENTAL: 5-8

Instrument: A Systronics UV-VIS Spectrophotometer model 107 was used for absorbance measurements

Reagents:

All the Chemicals used were of analytical grade

 

Method A:

i. MBTH (0.2%): 200mg of MBTH was dissolved in 100ml of distilled water

ii. CAS (1%): 1g of Cerric ammonium Sulphate (CAS) was dissolved in 0.72M Sulphuric acid

iii. Diluent: water

 

Preparation of Standard solution(100µg/ml): About 100mg of Levetiracetam(LEVT) working standard was accurately weighed and transferred into 100ml volumetric flask, 70ml of diluent was added sonicated to dissolve and made up to volume with diluent. Further 5ml of the resulting solution is taken into 50ml volumetric flask and made upto volume with diluent

 

Preparation of Test Solution: Twenty tablets were taken weighed and powdered .Sample equivalent to About 100mg of Levetiracetam (LEVT)was accurately weighed and transferred into 100ml volumetric flask,70ml of diluent was added sonicated to dissolve and made up to volume with diluent. 10ml was taken and centrifuged at 2500rpm. Further 5ml of the resulting solution is taken into 50ml volumetric flask and made up to volume with diluent.

 

Method B:

i)    Fecl3 (0.9%):900mg of Fecl3 was dissolved in 100ml of distilled water

ii)  1, 10 PTL (0.2%):200mg of 1, 10 PTL was dissolved in 100ml of distilled water

iii)  Diluent: Water

 

Preparation of Standard solution (50µg/ml): About 100mg of  Levetiracetam (LEVT) working standard was accurately weighed and transferred into 100ml volumetric flask, 70ml of diluent was added sonicated to dissolve and made up to volume with diluent. Further 5ml of the resulting solution is taken into 100ml volumetric flask and made up to volume with diluent

 

Preparation of Test Solution: Twenty tablets were taken weighed and powdered .Sample equivalent to About 100mg of Levetiracetam (LEVT)was accurately weighed and transferred into 100ml volumetric flask, 70ml of diluent was added sonicated to dissolve and made up to volume with diluent. 10ml was taken and centrifuged at 2500rpm. Further 5ml of the resulting solution is taken into 100ml volumetric flask and made upto volume with diluent.

 

Method C:

i)  Diluent: Methanol

Preparation of Standard solution(100µg/ml): About 100mg of Levetiracetam (LEVT) working standard was accurately weighed and transferred into 100ml volumetric flask ,70ml of diluent was added sonicated to dissolve and made up to volume with diluent. Further 5ml of the resulting solution is taken into 50ml volumetric flask and made upto volume with diluent

 

Preparation of Test Solution: Twenty tablets were taken weighed and powdered .Sample equivalent to About 100mg of Levetiracetam (LEVT)was accurately weighed and transferred into 100ml volumetric flask, 70ml of diluent was added sonicated to dissolve and made up to volume with diluent. 10ml was taken and centrifuged at 2500rpm. Further 5ml of the resulting solution is taken into 50ml volumetric flask and made up to volume with diluent.

 

Assay Procedures:

For Method A Volumes of standard solution ranging from (0.5-3ml; 1ml=100µg) were transferred into a series of 10ml graduated volumetric flasks. A 1ml portion of MBTH was added to each flask and shaken gently for 5 min. Then 1ml of CAS solution was added to each flask and kept aside for 10min for maximum color development .Appropriate volume of distilled water was added to each flask to bring the total volume 10ml.The absorbance was measured at 630nm against reagent blank. The Test solution was treated in the same manner as standard and measured the absorbance at 630nm

 

For Method B Volumes of standard solution ranging from (0.5-4ml; 1ml=50µg) were transferred into a series of 10ml graduated volumetric flasks. Then 0.5ml portion of FeCl3 and 2.0ml of 1, 10 PTL were added successively and the volume made up to 5ml with diluent and set aside for 10min. To that 2.0ml of o-PA was added and the total volume was made up to 10ml with distilled water. The absorbances of the colored complex solutions were measured after 5min at 510nm against reagent blank prepared similarly. The Test solution was treated in the same manner as standard and measured the absorbance at 510nm.

 

For Method C Volumes of standard and test solution ranging from (0.5-2.5ml; 1ml=100µg) were transferred into a series of 10ml graduated volumetric flasks and made up to volume with diluent. The resulting solutions were measured the absorbance at 210nm using the diluent as blank.

 

The amount of Levetiracetam (LEVT) present in the sample solutions(X) using the proposed methods was calculated by formula given below and the results are given in Table-2

 

              AT          Ds            Aw             P

X =       ----  X ------X   ----   X  -----  X  100

              As         DT         L         100

 

A= Absorbance of  sample solution

A= Absorbance of standard solution

Ds= Dilution factor for Standard

DT  = Dilution factor for Test Solution

A= Average weight of sample in mg

L    = Label Claim

P =Potency of Standard on as is basis

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The UV-Visible spectrum of standard solutions of Levetiracetam (LEVT) for Method A, Method B and Method C was illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3. The optical characteristics such as Beer’s law limits(µg/ml), Sandell’s sensitivity (µg/cm2/0.001 A.U), Correlation coefficient (r), % Relative standard deviation (Calculated from six determinations), % Range of error (0.05 confidence limits and 0.01 confidence limits), Regression equation (I+ ac) for the proposed methods are calculated and summarized in Table-1.


 

TABLE-1 OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRECISION

Method Parameters

Method A

Method B

Method C

λmax

630nm

510nm

210nm

Beer’s law limits(µg/ml)

5-30

2.5-25

5-20

Sand ell’s Sensitivity(µg/cm2/0.001 A.U)

0.032

0.030

0.027

Regression equation(I + ac)

Slope (a)

Intercept (I)

 

0.0313

0.0017

 

0.0337

0.0002

 

0.0368

0.0083

Correlation coefficient(r)

0.999

0.999

0.999

%RSD

0.462

0.447

0.569

% Range of error

Confidence limits with 0.05 level

Confidence limits with 0.01 level

 

0.386

0.572

 

0.374

0.553

 

0.476

0.704

* Mean of six determinations

 

TABLE-2  EVALUATION OF LEVETIRACETAM IN PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS

Label Claim

Mg/tablet

Amount Obtained(mg)*

%Recovery **

Proposed method

Reference Method (HPLC)

Method A

Method B

Method C

Method A

Method B

Method C

500

497.5

± 2.288

502.283

± 2.220

500.983

± 2.853

499.3 ± 1.571

99.3

± 0.239

99.9

± 0.519

99.8

± 0.364

*Mean ±SD of six determinations. ** Mean ±SD of six determinations(100mg of Levetiracetam was added and recovered)

 

 


Figure 1. Visible Spectrum of Levetriacetam - Method A (MBTH-CAS)

 

Figure 2. Visible Spectrum of Levetriacetam - Method B (FeCl3-1,10 PTL)

 

Figure 3. UV Spectrum of Levetriacetam in Methanol

 

Figure 4. Calibration Curve of Levetriacetam - Method A (MBTH-CAS)

 

Figure 5. Calibration Curve of Levetriacetam - Method B (FeCl3-1, 10 PTL)

 

The results obtained with the proposed methods for dosage forms is Compared with the results obtained with HPLC method and presented in Table-2.The Proposed method is Validated and found to be Specific, Accurate, Precise and Linear.

 

The Calibration Curve Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 for the Proposed methods was illustrated in the Concentration range 5 to 30 µg mL-1 of Levetiracetam(LEVT) for Method A , 2.5 to 25 µg mL-1  for Method B and 5 to 20 µg mL-1 for Method C. Interference studies revealed that the common excipients used in the dosage forms do not interfere in the estimation of Levetiracetam(LEVT)using the proposed methods. To Check the recovery using the proposed method known amount of pure drug was added to the Placebo used in the pharmaceutical preparation of Levetiracetam and the mixtures were analyzed by the proposed method and the %Recoveries are given in the table-2. In conclusion the proposed methods are simple, sensitive and accurate and can be used for the routine determination of Levetiracetam (LEVT) in pharmaceutical preparations.

 

Figure 6. Calibration Curve of Levetriacetam in Methanol

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors wish to thank the Orchid Healthcare for providing the samples of Levetiracetam.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       The Merck index,13 th edition., Merck Research Laboratories., Division of Merck and CO,INC, White House station,NJ,2003,

2.       United States of Pharmacopoeia USP 32. USP convention Inc., Rockville, 2002.

3.       European Pharmacopeia, 3rd Edition, 1997 and Supplement, Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 1999.

4.       Japan Pharmacopoeia, XIIIth Edition, 1996.

5.       Beckett, A.H., Stenlake, J.B., Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vol. I & II, CBS Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 1986.

6.       Lachman, L., Liberman, H.A., and Kaning, J.L., The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy, 2nd Edn. London.

7.       Mithal, B.M., Text book of Pharmaceutical Formulations, 4th Edn., Vallabh Prakashan, New Delhi, 1991

8.       Higuchi, T., Brochman – Hansen, E., Edt., Pharmaceutical Analysis, Interscience, London, 1961.

 

 

 

Received on 31.03.2010        Modified on 13.04.2010

Accepted on 20.04.2010        © AJRC All right reserved

Asian J. Research Chem. 3(3): July- Sept.  2010; Page 724-727