Separation and analysis of pilocarpine, isopilocarpine, and pilocarpic acid by reverse phase liquid chromatography: collaborative study.

A method for separating and determining pilocarpine and 2 degradation products was developed and subjected to collaborative study. Pilocarpine, isopilocarpine, and pilocarpic acid were isolated on a reverse phase liquid chromatographic phenyl bonded column and detected by UV spectrophotometry at 220 nm. Nine collaborators received commercial samples labeled to contain 2, 1, and 0.5% pilocarpine and a 2% practice sample. The collaborative results for pilocarpine were excellent; coefficients of variation ranged from 3.20 to 4.10%. The method was adopted official first action for determination of the active component, pilocarpine, in the presence of isopilocarpine and pilocarpic acid. Although quantitative results for the degradation products were not as good, the method is suitable as a limits test for these substances.