Development and validation of simple stability indicating RP-HPLC method for piperine estimation in Piper nigrum, marketed formulations and nanoformulation

Abstract

The objective of the current research is to develop simple, rapid, precise and sensitive RP-HPLC method for piperine estimation and its application to marketed Ayurvedic and herbal formulations. A reversed-phase C-18 column (5 mm, 4.6 mm, 250 mm, ZORBAX) was used to achieve the separation of piperine. Optimal chromatographic conditions were established by using mobile phase consisting of methanol and water in a 75:25 ratio with flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection wavelength of 342 nm. The developed HPLC method to estimate piperine was validated in compliance with ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. The newly developed method demonstrated linearity in the range of 0.5-16 μg/mL, with a regression coefficient R2 > 0.999. The accuracy of the developed method was confirmed by a recovery rate ranging from 98.20% to 99.42%. Precision was also ensured, with a relative standard deviation (%RSD) less than 2%. Additionally, the method exhibited robustness. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for piperine was found to be 0.00056 μg/ml and 0.0016 μg/ml respectively. Moreover, the degradation characteristics of piperine were examined in compliance with ICH Q1A (R2) guidelines. Piperine demonstrated pronounced degradation behaviour in both oxidative and thermal investigations. The developed analytical technique was successfully employed to quantify piperine in Piper nigrum, in commercially available Ayurvedic and herbal products and in nanotransfersomes. Also, the developed method was used to estimate the percent drug entrapped within nanotransfersomes. Therefore, it can be concluded that the established approach is well-suited for performing routine quality analysis of formulations containing piperine.