Analytical Techniques for Quantification of Metoclopramide: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Analysis

Background:

• Metoclopramide (MCP) is a vital prokinetic and antiemetic drug.
• Accurate quantification of MCP is essential for quality control, pharmacokinetic studies, and therapeutic monitoring due to potential adverse reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review analytical techniques for metoclopramide determination over the past 25 years.
• To focus on chromatographic, spectroscopic, and electroanalytical methods for MCP quantification.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, etc.).
• Focus on analytical methodologies including High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods.

Main Results:

• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) remains the gold standard for MCP analysis due to its precision and versatility.
• LC-MS/MS offers high sensitivity (pg-ng/mL) for bioanalytical applications, while HPLC-UV is cost-effective for routine quality control.
• Electrochemical methods show promise with low cost and high sensitivity, particularly using nanomaterial-modified electrodes.

Conclusions:

• Chromatographic techniques, especially HPLC and LC-MS/MS, are the most reliable for metoclopramide quantification.
• Spectroscopic and electrochemical methods offer alternatives with varying degrees of sensitivity and selectivity.
• Challenges remain in MCP stability, matrix interference, and balancing analytical sensitivity with practical accessibility.