Determination of ergotamine tartrate in tablets by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method is presented for the liquid chromatographic (LC) determination of ergotamine tartrate in tablets that is applicable even in the presence of other ingredients such as phenobarbital, belladonna alkaloids, and caffeine. The sample is transferred to a volumetric flask, a small volume of formic acid is added to dissolve and stabilize the ergotamine, and the solution is diluted to volume with methanol. The solution is mixed and filtered through paper. The LC system consists of a Rheodyne injector fitted with a 20 microL loop and a C18 reverse phase column; the mobile phase is acetonitrile-water-triethylamine (700 + 300 + 0.5). Ergotamine tartrate is determined fluorometrically at an excitation wavelength of 250 nm and an emission wavelength of 430 nm. Recovery studies were conducted at the 0.3 and 1.0 mg levels. Average recoveries were 99.6 and 100.8%, respectively; relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.08 and 2.21%, respectively. Some commercial preparations containing ergotamine tartrate in combination with other ingredients were also analyzed. The RSDs for 5 determinations of each of 2 ground composites were 0.09 and 0.34%.