A Simple and Rapid Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Artesunate in Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Simple and rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of artesunate is described. The
method is based on the reaction of H2O2, generated by the cleavage of endoperoxide linkage of
artesunate and its reaction with potassium iodide to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine bleaches the
red colored Safranin O to colorless species and is measured at 521 nm while it oxidizes colorless
Variamine blue to violet colored species and is measured at 556 nm. The optimum reaction conditions
and other analytical parameters were evaluated. The statistical evaluation of the method is examined
by determining intra-day and inter-day precision. The method has been successfully applied to both
pure and tablet dosage forms.