Published:Journal of Chromatographic Science,
ISSN 0021-9665Volume 41, Number 7, August 2003, pp. 359-366
Densitometric Thin-Layer Chromatographic Determination of Artemisinin
and its Lipophilic Derivatives, Artemether and Arteether
M. Gabriëls* and J.A. Plaizier-Vercammen
Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Institute,
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
A thin-layer chromatograpy (TLC) method is developed to analyze
artemisinin (AT) and its derivatives, artemether (AM) and arteether (AE), using
a silica-gel plate with a mobile phase containing pure chloroform. After development,
all products are visualized after dipping in a 4-methoxybenzaldehyde dipping
reagent of 1% (v/v) in an acidic solution of sulphuric acid (98%, v/v) and
acetic acid (96–98%, v/v) (respectively, 2% and 10%, v/v in alcohol–water,
60:30, v/v), presenting a purple color against a slightly colored background.
This TLC system is quantitatively evaluated in terms of stability of the color,
precision, accuracy, and calibration. Activation is performed at 110°C.
Stability of the color of both analytes is reached after 12 min. Precision,
less than 5%, is obtained at two levels. Good linearity is obtained in the
range of 0.5–8 µg for all analytes. Some applications show its
utility in the quality control of capsules. The prederivatization technique,
applying the described dipping reagent before development, reveals the presence
of various reaction products, possibly isomers. These results prove that TLC
can be a cheap and easy alternative for the analysis of AT and its lipophilic
derivatives, AM and AE, as pure powder and in pharmaceutical-dosage forms.
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