Dual-mode gradient HPLC procedure for the simultaneous determination of chloroquine and proguanil

In order to assay the antipaludic capsule of the Service de Sante des Armees (SSA), that contains two antimalarial drugs, i.e. chloroquine sulfate (CQS, cp1) and proguanil hydrochloride (PGH, cp5), a HPLC procedure was developed. A reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with an ultraviolet detection at 254 nm was set up and validated. Elution system includes programming of both organic concentration and flow-rate known as 'dual-mode gradient'. This method allows the simultaneous determination of both active compounds and separation of four process related substances. The method is simple, rapid, selective and accurate, and the precision is good with an inter- and intra-assay of < 2%. The sensitivity is particularly suitable for pharmaceutical quality control. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.