Detection of metronidazole in biological fluids by derivative UV-spectrophotomtery

Derivative UV-Spectophotometry has been described for the detection and determination of metronidazole in stomach wash. The drug was extracted and analysed preliminarily by thin layer chromatography. The final detection and determination were carried out by 1st and 2nd derivative UV-Spectrophotometric study. Better resolution of metronidazole was observed in solvent 0.1 N NaOH in which peculiar six λ max. and seven λ min. were recorded. Method was also found to be useful for quantitative estimation and was also done by considering λ max. 294 nm as well as λ max. 335 nm of 1st and 2nd derivative spectra respectively in 0.1 N NaOH.