Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Quality of Artesunate Tablets Sold in Pharmacies in Kumasi, Ghana

K Ofori-Kwakye , Y Asantewaa, O Gaye

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana;

For correspondence:- K Ofori-Kwakye Email: koforikwakye@yahoo.com Tel:+233 51 60374

Received: 22 January 2008 Accepted: 29 August 2008 Published: 16 December 2008

Citation: Ofori-Kwakye K, Asantewaa Y, Gaye O. Quality of Artesunate Tablets Sold in Pharmacies in Kumasi, Ghana. Trop J Pharm Res 2008; 7(4):1179-1184 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v7i4.11

© 2008 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: The study was carried out to evaluate the quality of artesunate tablets sold in retail and wholesale pharmacies in Kumasi, Ghana. In particular, the study sought to ascertain the presence or otherwise of counterfeit artesunate tablets in Kumasi.

Method: Artesunate tablets were purchased from pharmacies in Kumasi for the study. The mechanical properties of the tablets were evaluated, namely: uniformity of weight, breaking strength, friability and rate of disintegration in aqueous medium. Colorimetric methods were used to determine the presence of artesunate and to assay the tablets.

Result: None of the artesunate tablets sampled was found to be a counterfeit. Most of the brands had acceptable mechanical properties in terms of mass uniformity, hardness, friability and disintegration time. However, the artesunate content of the tablets was variable (47.9-99.9 %). Six (35.3 %) of the samples passed the International Pharmacopoeia content uniformity test (93.7-99.9 %) while 11 (64.7 %) failed the test (47.9-89.4 %). However, only 3 (17.6 %) of the samples met the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) content requirements while 14 (82.4 %) failed to meet the requirements.

Conclusion: The presence of substandard artesunate tablets on the Ghanaian market should alert drug regulatory authorities to be vigilant and continually monitor the quality of this life-saving drug.

Keywords: Artesunate tablets, Artemisinins, Fast-red TR salt, Counterfeit drugs, Substandard drugs.