Simultaneous Determination of Trace Mefenamic Acid in Pharmaceutical Samples via Flow Injection Fluorometry

Abstract

Mefenamic acid belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are used widely for the treatment of analgesia. Our aim from this study is to establish a new assay for the quantitative determination of mefenamic acid (MFA) in the pharmaceutical sample by two sensitive and rapid flow injection-fluorometric methods. A homemade fluorometer was used in fluorescence measurements, which using solid-state laser diode 405 and 532 nm as a source, combined with a continuous flow injection technique. The first method depends on the effect of MFA on calcein blue (CLB) fluorescence at 405 nm. Another method is a study of rhodamine-6G (Rh-6G) fluorescence after adding MFA, and recording at 532 nm. Optimum parameters as fluorescent dye concentration, basic medium, flow rate, sample volume, purge time, and delay coil have been investigated. The dynamic range of MFA was 0.2 to 2 mmol.L-1; 0.5 to 2.3 mmol.L-1 with linearity percentage (% r2) 98.92 and 99.83%, for Rh-6G and CLB, respectively. Limit of detection at a minimum concentration in calibration curve 189.34 and 199.89 ng/sample, for Rh-6G and CLB, respectively. The comparison of developed methods with the classical method (UV-vis spectrophotometry) was achieved. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of MFA in the pharmaceutical samples and can be used as an alternative method.