A stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of glucosamine in pharmaceutical formulations

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the assay of glucosamine in bulk forms and solid dosage formulations. The HPLC separation was achieved on a Phenomenex Luna amino column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, i.d., 5 microm particle size) using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (75:25, v/v, pH 7.50) at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min(-1) and UV detection at 195 nm. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, solution stability, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation. The detector response for glucosamine hydrochloride was linear over the selected concentration range from 1.88 to 5.62 mg ml(-1) with a correlation coefficient 0.9998. The accuracy was between 98.9 and 100.5%. The precision (R.S.D.) amongst six sample preparations was 1.1%. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation are 0.037 and 0.149 mg ml(-1), respectively. The sample and standard solutions were stable for 1 week. The method was successfully used for analysis of active-excipient compatibility samples used for development of a solid dosage formulation in our laboratory and subsequent stability studies. The method was also used for the analysis of glucosamine in several commercially available solid dosage forms.