HPTLC method for determination of colchicine in a pharmaceutical formulation

An HPTLC method, using an internal standard, for analysis of colchicine in a pharmaceutical formulation, has been established and validated. The analyte and internal standard were separated on aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F-254; the mobile phase was ethyl acetate-acetonitrile-water-formic acid 8.0:1.0:0.5:0.5 (v/v). Quantification was by densitometric scanning at 358 nm. Response was a linear function of colchicine concentration in the range 5 to 35 mu g mL(-1). The limits of detection and quantification for colchicine were 1 and 5 mu g mL(-1), respectively. Average recovery of colchicine was 100.48%, which showed the method was free from interference from excipients present in the formulation. The established method enabled accurate, precise, and rapid analysis of colchicine in the pharmaceutical formulation.