High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Method for the Estimation of Paracetamol, Dicyclomine Hydrochloride, and Mefenamic Acid in Combined Tablet Dosage Form

Abstract

A simple, sensitive, and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed for the estimation of paracetamol, dicyclomine hydrochloride, and mefenamic acid in combined dosage form. The method employed high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254 as the stationary phase, while the solvent system was toluene-ethyl acetate-methanol (6:3:1, v/v). The RF values were observed to be 0.27 ± 0.02, 0.41 ± 0.03, and 0.61 ± 0.02 for paracetamol, dicyclomine hydrochloride, and mefenamic acid, respectively. The separated spots were densitometrically analyzed in absorbance mode at 290 nm. The method was linear in the range of 300-1800 ng band−1 for paracetamol, 400–2400 ng band−1 for dicyclomine hydrochloride, and of 150–1500 ng band−1 for mefenamic acid. The method was validated with respect to accuracy, precision, specificity, sensitivity, and robustness. The limits of detection for paracetamol, dicyclomine hydrochloride, and mefenamic...