Abstract
The voltammetric behaviour of josamycin (a macrolide antibiotic) has been studied using direct current (DC(t)) alternating current (AC(t)) and differential pulse polarography (DPP). In Britton-Robinson buffers, josamycin developed cathodic waves over the pH range 7-12. At pH 10, a well-defined cathodic wave with diffusion current constant of 1.06 +/- 0.19 (n = 5) was obtained. The wave was characterized as being diffusion-controlled; and partially affected by adsorption phenomenon. The current-concentrations plots are rectilinear over the range 10-60 and 6-50 microg/ml using DC(t) mode and DPP mode, respectively. The minimum detectability limit was 1.2 microg/ml (1.9 x 10(-6) M) adopting the DPP mode. A method was proposed for the determination of josamycin in its tablets adopting both DC(t) and DPP modes. The results obtained were in good agreement with those given by the manufacturer. The method was extended to the in-vitro determination of the drug in spiked human urine; the % recovery was 98.06 +/- 1.76% (n = 5). The number of electrons involved in the reduction process was accomplished and a proposal of the electrode reaction was presented.