Simultaneous HPTLC determination of escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam in combined tablets

A new, simple high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method has been established and validated for simultaneous determination of escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam in a combined tablet dosage form. The drugs were separated on aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F-254; toluene-ethyl acetate-triethylamine 7:3.5:3 (v/v) was used as mobile phase. Quantitative analysis was performed by densitometric scanning at 258 nm. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. The calibration plot was linear over the ranges 250-2,500 and 50-500 ng band(-1) for escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of drugs in a pharmaceutical formulation.