US EPA

8223483 

Journal Article 

Derivatization of artemisinin derivatives using 4-carboxyl -2, 6-dinitro benzenediazonium (CDNBD) ion 

Adegoke, OA; Idowu, OS; Daramola, OP; Ogunsanya, OS 

2010 

52 

3 

269-280 

English 

A new UV-spectrophotometric method for analysis of artesunate, dihydroartemisinin and artemether has been developed. The reaction involves the diazo coupling of acid decomposition product generated in situ with the highly reactive 4- carboxyl-2,6- dinitrobenzene diazonium ion (CDNBD) to form azo adducts that are UV active. Optimum reaction conditions were established at 70oC for 10 min (artesunate and artemether) and 5 min (dihydroartemisinin). The diazotized compounds were determined at λ max of 320 nm (artesunate and dihydroartemisinin) and 310 nm (artemether). Assays were linear over 3.6-28.8 (artesunate), 5.2-26.0 (dihydroartemisinin) and 5.4-21.6 5g/mL (artemether) with LODs of 0.95, 0.17 and 0.55 μg/mL respectively. Overall recovery of 99.45 ± 2.75 (artesunate), 99.88 ± 2.41 (dihydroartemisinin) and 99.97 ± 1.53% (artemether) were obtained from the three-day assessment of accuracy and repeatability. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of artemisinin derivatives in tablets and injectables. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) with official methods. The new method has the advantages of speed, cost-effectiveness and simplicity. 

Artemether; Artesunate; Diazo coupling reaction; Dihydroartemisinin