Determination of the minor component bromhexine in cotrimoxazole-containing tablets by absorption spectrophotometry and partial least-squares (PLS-1) multivariate calibration.

The mucolitic bromhexine [N-(2-amino-3,5-dibromobenzyl)-N-methylcyclohexylamine] has been determined in cotrimoxazole-containing tablets by partial least-squares (PLS-1) multivariate of spectrophotometric calibration data in the spectral range 310-350 nm. In the studied commercial tablets, cotrimoxazole is present in large excess (ca. 100:1 in weight) with respect to bromhexine, and a high degree of spectral overlapping exists among bromhexine and cotrimoxazole components. However, the obtained recoveries are reasonably good with the presently discussed technique.