title: Evaluation of the physicochemical equivalence of three brands of commercially available quinine sulphate tablets from South Western part of Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relatively little resistance to quinine globally has led to an increase in its use in P. falciparum malaria especially in multi-drug resistant strains.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the physicochemical and equivalency of three brands of quinine sulphate tablets available in South Western region of Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pharmaceutical and chemical equivalence of three brands of quinine sulphate tablets were assessed through the evaluation of some biopharmaceutical parameters and active drug content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the brands complied with the official specification for uniformity of weight. Two of the brands (A & B) gave similar crushing strengths while the third brand (C) gave a much lower value. Similarly all the brands complied with the official specification of disintegration test but the obtained values were statistically different (p<0.05). The T(70) obtained from the dissolution rate profile was less than 45 minutes for the three brands, although A and B were not statistically different but C was statistically from A and B. The quinine content of brands B and C are within the official specification however brand A with percentage content of 110±1.3%w/w, is above the specification while it is statistically different from the other brands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brands B and C could be regarded as chemical equivalent, but they are not biopharmaceutical equivalents, on the other hand, brands A and B may be regarded as biopharmaceutical equivalents but not chemical equivalent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adegbite
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Adegbolagun
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy; D011786:Quality Control; D011803:Quinine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012995:Solubility; D013607:Tablets; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D013607:Tablets; D011803:Quinine