The Application of TLC and Densitometry for Quantitative Determination of Meloxicam in Tablets

Background: Meloxicam is as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that indicates a strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity. It is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in the form of various pharmaceutical preparations. Objective: The aim of the work was an elaboration of chromatographic conditions enabling the complete separation of impurities A and B from meloxicam and also its quantitative determination in tablets with use of TLC combined with densitometry as well as the comparison of the method proposed with that described in the literature by Starek and Krzek. Methods: The mixture of ethyl acetate: toluene: n-butylamine (2:2:1, v/v/v) was used as a mobile phase. Determination of meloxicam was performed on silica gel and aluminium oxide plates. Chromatographic conditions presented in this work are better than those described by Starek and Krzek. Results: Linearity of the method for both types of plates was in the range from 1.0 to 5.0 μg/spot. Limit of quantification for silica gel plates was 0.18 μg/spot, while for aluminium oxide plates it was 0.26 μg/spot. Limit of detection has been also specified, 0.06 μg/spot for silica gel plates and 0.08 μg/spot for aluminium oxide plates. The average amount of meloxicam in tablets obtained on silica gel plates was 100.4%, and on the aluminium oxide plates it was 100.3%. Conclusion: The developed method of determination of meloxicam using thin layer chromatography combined with densitometry turned out to be accurate, precise and specific. It can be successfully applied in quality control of meloxicam.