Development and validation of HPTLC and first derivative spectrophotometric methods for determination of levetiracetam in bulk and tablet dosage form

A simple, sensitive high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method and first order derivative spectrophotometric methods were developed for estimation of US FDA drug levetiracetam in bulk and its tablet dosage form. Chromatographic estimation was carried out on silica gel 60 F₂₄₅ TLC plate as stationary phase and toluene: methanol: Ethyl acetate (4:4:2v/v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric analysis was carried out at wavelength 218nm. The Rf values for Levetiracetam was found to be 0.47±0.03. Linearity was observed over range of 400-3200ng/spot for Levetiracetam (R² 0.998). The %recovery of Levetiracetam was found to be 99.25-100.7%. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.0917ng/ml and 0.278ng/ml respectively indicating sensitivity of the method. The first order derivative spectra were obtained at n=⁴, Δλ=3nm and determinations was made at 215 nm using methanol as solvent. Linearity was observed in the range of 80μg/ml - 280μg/ml with good regression values. Percent mean recovery of Levetiracetam was obtained as 101.5%. Both proposed methods were simple, fast, accurate, precise and reproducible and hence can be applied for routine quality control analysis of levetiracetam in bulk and its tablet dosage form.