Simple spectrophotometric determination of cinnarizine in its dosage forms

A direct, extraction-free spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of cinnarizine in pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on ion-pair formation between the drug and three acidic (sulphonphthalein) dyes; namely bromocresol green (BCG), bromocresol purple (BCP) and bromophenol blue (BPB) which induces an instantaneous bathochromic shift of the maximum in the drug spectrum. Conformity to Beer's law enabled the assay of dosage forms of the drug. Compared with a reference method, the results obtained were of equal accuracy and precision. A more detailed investigation of the cinnarizine-BCG ion pair complex was made with respect to its composition, association constant and free energy change. In addition, this method was also found to be specific for the analysis of cinnarizine in the presence of some of the co-formulated drugs, such as pyridoxine hydrochloride and digoxin.