54(4), 2007, pp.1099-1105

Colorimetric Microdetermination of Bromhexine Drug in Aqueous Solution

Rabah A. Khalil* and Abdussamed M. A. Saeed

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

Abstract.     A simple, accurate and sensitive method for determination of bromhexine hydrochloride drug in aqueous solution has been described. The procedure has been based on the reaction of this drug with an excess amount of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DAB) in acidic medium (pH = 1.6) and the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The produced yellow color from this reaction has been followed spectrophotometrically at an absorbance maximum of 430 nm. Microgram amounts of bromhexine hydrochloride can be estimated with an accuracy of better than ±1.5% and a relative standard deviation of less than 3.5%. The method has been used for the determination of 0.41-82.5 mg.mL-1 with a molar extinction coefficient of 4699.1-3602.3 L.mol-1.cm-1. An application of the developed procedure to bulk bromhexine hydrochloride and some of its pharmaceutical preparations has been carried out. The effect of the presence of some other surfactants and common pharmaceutical additives has been investigated. A comparison of the presented method with that in the absence of SDS and the standard method of the British Pharmacopoeia has been explored. The suggestion, according to the results, is to use the developed method as standard in pharmaceutical applications.

Keyword:  Bromhexine; Colorimetric microdetermination; p-Dimethylaminobenzaldehyde; Sodium dodecyl sulfate.