SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID IN DIFFERENT DRUGS SOLD IN LAPAI AND MINNA, NIGER STATE

Abstract

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug used as an analgesic, antipyretic and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Fourteen aspirin drug samples with different batch numbers were randomly selected in Lapai and Minna in Niger State, Nigeria in order to ascertain their quality. The drugs used in this study were Alabukun, Anacin, Cafenol, Counting Aspirin, Dispersible Aspirin, Micropirin and Vasoprin and were coded as ALBM, ALBL, ANCM, ANCL, CAFM, CAFL 1, CAFL 2, COASM, COASL, DPASM, MCPM, VASL, VASM 1, and VASM 2. The manufacturing dates of the drugs ranged from November, 2014 to July, 2016 while their expiry dates ranged from October, 2017 to June, 2019. The acetylsalicylic acid contents of the drugs were determined using Biochrome UV2800 double beam UV/VIS scanning spectrophotometer at 530 nm. All the aspirin drugs showed differences between the ASA content stated on their labels and the experimentally determined values. The results obtained were compared with the monograph requirements of the United States (US), European (EU) and British Pharmacopoeias for ASA. Some of the drugs had ASA contents that were below recommended limits of the US, EU, and British pharmacopoeias and are counterfeit drugs, which are a threat to public health while ASA contents of ANCM (94.1 %), COASM (94.3 %), DPASM (96.4 %), MCPM (97.8 %) and VASM 1 (90.4 %) were within United States (US) pharmacopoeia range (90.0-110.0 %). Only DPASM and MCPM with % ASA content of 96.4 and 97.8 respectively were within British pharmacopoeia (95.0-105.0 %). None of the drugs met the recommended permissible limits of EU pharmacopoeia (98.5-101.0 %).