High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone and its pharmaceutical tablet formulation

A rapid, sensitive and stability indicating high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in pharmaceutical tablet formulation. The analysis was done on a Supelcosil C(18) column (25 cm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm). The mobile phase consisted of methanol:sodium acetate buffer solution (5 g/L):acetic acid (500 mL/L), 57:42:1, v/v/v, adjusted to pH 5 at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Detection was carried out at a wavelength of 258 nm. The polynomial regression data for the calibration curve showed good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.2-1 mg/mL with r = 0.9996. The method was validated for precision, accuracy and recovery. The limit of detection was found to be 50 ng/ microL. The method was applied for the analysis of DHEA in its pharmaceutical tablet formulation. The effects of different buffers and alcohols on the retention of DHEA were studied and the role of acetic acid as an organic phase modifier was also investigated.