Voltammetric behaviour of antimalarial drug artesunate in solubilized systems

The voltammetric behaviour of artesunate is studied at glassy carbon electrode in different buffer systems using square wave, differential pulse and cyclic voltammetric techniques. The peak current is linear with the drug concentration in the range 4.0–40 μg mL−1 for serum, plasma and urine. The mean percentage recoveries of the drug, urine, plasma and serum samples are 98.6–100.2%. No electroactive interferences from the excipients and endogenous substance could be observed in the pharmaceutical dosage forms and in biological samples.

The electrochemical behaviour of artesunate has been studied by using different voltammetric techniques in phosphate buffer. Artesunate is reduced in a single two-electron, irreversible and diffusion-controlled wave. The peak current is linear with the drug concentration in the range 4.0 to 40 μg mL−1 for pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluids.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Solubilized system and biological fluids is studied for the first time in artesunate.
► The proposed method is linear over the range 4.0–40 μg mL−1 in biological fluids.
► The method is cheap, simple and accurate for the determination of artesunate.