Quantitation of Acyclovir in Pharmaceutical Dosage forms using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography method for the quantitation of acyclovir in pharmaceutical dosage forms (capsules, ointment and injection) has been developed. The method is accurate and precise with a percent relative standard deviation of 1.2 based on 5 readings. The excipients present in the dosage forms did not interfere with the assay method. The recovery from the synthetic mixtures was quantitative. The samples decomposed under drastic conditions showed a new peak in the chromatogram. Acyclovir appears to be more stable in the alkaline than in the acidic solution. There appears to be a distribution/decomposition problem with the ointment sample being marketed in certain types of tubes used previously and still on the market.