Meloxicam

A simple and precise reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of meloxicam in human plasma was developed and validated. Using piroxicam as an internal standard (IS), separation was achieved on Symmetry shield RP-18 column. 0.5 ml plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation using trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile. The mobile phase consisted of 0.025 M dibasic potassium phosphate (pH=6.0, adjusted with phosphoric acid), methanol, and acetonitrile (73:5:22, v:v:v) and was delivered at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. Eluents were measured using photodiode array detector set at 355 nm. Under these conditions, no interference in blank plasma or of commonly used drugs was observed. The relationship between the concentration of meloxicam in plasma and peak height ratio of meloxicam to the IS was linear over the range of 0.05-2.0 μg/ml. Intra-day and inter-day coefficient of variations (CV) and biases were ≤ 6.0% and ≤ 8.6%, and ±5.9% and ±5.3%, respectively. Extraction recovery of meloxicam and the IS from plasma was ≥80% and 98%, respectively. The method was applied to assess the stability of meloxicam under various clinical laboratory conditions. In processed samples, meloxicam was stable for at least 24 hours at room temperature (≥ 82%) and 48 hours at -20C (≥ 95%). In unprocessed sample it was stable for at least 24 hours at RT (≥ 82%), 16 weeks at -20ºC (≥ 87%), and after three freeze-thaw cycles (≥ 90%). The method is suitable for clinical and bioavailability investigation involving meloxicam concentration in the therapeutic range.

Meloxicam has been analyzed in a number of ways but the methods proved to be slow and tedious due to the involvement of buffers, maintaining of pH and lengthy process of HPLC or potentiometric titration. Our aim was development and validation of a new, fast, simple and inexpensive method for the analysis of Meloxicam by UV visible spectrophotometry. A new solvent system consisting of Acetonitrile and Methanol (70:30) was formulated by trial and error method. Different concentrations of meloxicam were made in this solvent system and were analyzed by UV visible spectroscopy. The absorbance was studied over the range of 240 to 400nm. The obtained results were used to study and calculate various validation parameters of this technique.  The calibration curve was found to be linear over the range of 0.1 to 0.6ug/ml with linear coefficient of 0.999. The precision was calculated to be equivalent to 0.251%. The LOD and LOQ of this method were found to be around 0.006ug/ml and 0.02ug/ml respectively. The system showed accuracy over the range of 90-100%. This method proved to be a good alternative to existing reported methods as it showed sensitivity, accuracy as well as reproducibility with low cost and time.

A study on pharmacokinetics of pefloxacin and kinetic interaction between pefloxacin (5 mg/kg) and meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) was carried out through intravenous route in 5 female goats weighing 18-22 kg. A wash out period of 3 weeks was used before each injection. Blood (0.042-48 h) and urine (0.042-72 h) samples were collected. Estimation of pefloxacin and its active metabolite norfloxacin were carried out by using High Performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC). Shorter distribution half life (t1/2 α) of 0.16 h and elimination half life (t1/2 β) of 2.42 h were noted in pefloxacin alone administration and non-significant differences were noted in combination with meloxicam.  Significantly (P

In the present study, novel co-processed superdisintegrants were developed by solvent evaporation method using crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium in the different ratios (1:1, 1:2 & 1:3) to formulate mouth dissolving tablet formulations of Meloxicam. The poor aqueous solubility of Meloxicam makes its absorption as dissolution rate-limited and thus delay onset of action. Mouth dissolving tablets of Meloxicam were prepared using the above co-processed superdisintegrants and evaluated for different parameters. Effect of co-processed superdisintegrants (such as crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate) on wetting time, disintegrating time, drug content and in-vitro release parameters have been studied. Based on in vitro dispersion time (approximately 19 sec), promising formulation CP1 was tested for in-vitro drug release pattern. Among the designed formulations, the formulation (CP1) containing 4% w/w of co-processed superdisintegrant (1:1 mixture of crospovidone and sodium starch glycolate) found as the best formulation based on drug release characteristics. From this study, it can be concluded that dissolution rate of Meloxicam could be enhanced by tablets containing co-processed superdisintegrant.