ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METRONIDAZOLE TABLETS MARKETED IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

摘要

Metronidazole.is.an.antiparasitc.agent.used.in.the.treatment.of.amoebiasis.and.other.microbial.diseases.. It. is.an.essential.drug.commonly.sold. in.Nigerian.Market..There.are.many.different.brands.and.dosage.forms. under.various.trade. names. by.different. pharmaceutical. compan ies.. In. this.study.fifteen.15.brands/samples.of.metronidazole.tablets.marketed.in.pharmacy.shops,.hospitals.and.patent.medicine.vendor.shops.were.randomly.selected.from.different.areas.of.Zaria..Label.on.the.packages.claims.that.all.the.samples.contained.200mg.of.metronidazole.per.tablet..Some.of.the.samples. were. manufactured. in. Nigeria. while. others. were.imported... All. the. samples. examined. were.within. their. shelf. life.. .The. samples. were.subjected. to. official. quality. control. tests. such. as. active. content. uniformity,. weight. uniformity,. disintegration. and. dissoluti on. rate. tests.. The.unofficial.tests.conducted.included..crushing.strength/hardness,.friability,.and.tablet.thickness.tests...All.the.brands.passed.the.uniformity.of.weight,.disintegration.test,.potency,.dissolution.and.chemical.identifi cation.tests...Six.brands..passed.the.crushing.strength/hardness.test,.while.two.brands.failed.the.friability.test,..The.results.indicate.that.only.60%.of.the.sampled.drugs.passed.the.quality.control.tests