A validated HPLC method for the determination of thiazinamium methylsulphate in pharmaceutical preparations

The phenothiazine derivative thiazinamium methylsulphate is a drug with antihistaminic and anticholinergic properties, often used in some types of obstructive lung diseases. Because there is a lack of chromatographic data available for its determination, the objective of the present investigation was to develop a sensitive and rapid HPLC method for the quantitative estimation of thiazinamium methylsulphate in a pharmaceutical dosage form, applicable to routine analysis. The drug was chromatographed on a C18-reversed phase system applying a Licrocart column (LiChrospher 100 RP 18, 125 x 4 mm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (3:7, v/v), employing as ion-pairing agent octanesulphonic acid sodium salt (20 mM) together with N,N-dimethyloctylamine (20 mM), adjusted to pH 3. Detection occurred at 254 nm. Propylparaben was used as an internal standard. The method was applied to solutions for intramuscular injection containing thiazinamium methylsulphate (65 mg/2 ml). Since little sample preparation is required, most analyses can be carried out within 15 min. The optimized method was validated and provided acceptable results with respect to linearity (r = 0.9999), precision and accuracy in the concentration range of 26-78 microg/ml. The proposed method is presently employed to investigate the stability of thiazinamium methylsulphate in solutions for intramuscular injection in the presence of anti-oxidizing agents.