Validated TLC method for simultaneous quantitation of atorvastatin, ezetimibe, and fenofibrate in bulk drug and formulations

This article describes a new, simple, precise and accurate TLC method for simultaneous quantitation of atorvastatin (ATO), ezetimibe (EZE), and fenofibrate (FEN) as the bulk drug and in tablet dosage forms. Chromatographic separation of the drugs was performed on aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254 as the stationary phase and the solvent system consisting of chloroform-toluene-methanol-acetic acid 6:3:0.5:0.15 (υ/υ/υ/υ). Densitometric evaluation of the separated zones was performed at 263 nm. The drugs were satisfactorily resolved with RF values of 0.16 ± 0.02, 0.22 ± 0.02, and 0.76 ± 0.02 for ATO, EZE, and FEN, respectively. The accuracy and reliability of the method was assessed by evaluation of linearity (75–375 ng per spot for ATO, 99–594 ng per spot for EZE, and 66–330 ng per spot for FEN), precision intra-day and inter-day RSD values were always less than 1.51 for the titled drugs, accuracy (99.72 ± 0.75% for ATO, 101.25 ± 0.91% for EZE, and 101.06 ± 0.60% for FEN), and specificity, in accordance with ICH guidelines.