Optimization and Validation of a Fluorescence Method for the Determination of Primaquine in Pharmaceutical Formulation

Background: A simple, precise, and inexpensive spectrofluorometric method was developed and validated for the analysis of primaquine (PQ) in tablet formulation. Objective: The objective was to develop low-cost spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of PQ in pharmaceutical formulation. Method: The procedure is based on the reaction of PQ with fluorescamine (FC) in alkaline medium to form fluorescent derivatives measured at 480 nm after excitation at 397 nm. The effects of pH, reaction time, temperature and FC concentrations on the reaction of PQ and FC have been examined. Results: The optimum experimental parameters were investigated. Beer law is obeyed over the range 0.25-1.25 μg/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were measured to be 0.051 and 0.154 μg/mL, respectively, with linear regression correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9989 which recovered with a range 95-106%. Conclusion: The presented method can be used for the analysis of PQ in pharmaceutical formulation in quality control laboratories.