Development and Validation of an RP-HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Quantification of Metformin and Curcumin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metformin, a common drug for managing type 2 diabetes, and curcumin, a bioactive compound from turmeric, exhibit complementary therapeutic properties, particularly for metabolic disorders. Despite their potential synergy, simultaneous analysis is challenging due to differences in chemical structure and solubility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the concurrent quantification of metformin and curcumin. The method utilized an Agilent 1260 Infinity HPLC system with a UV-Vis detector and a C18 column, achieving separation with retention times of 1.2 minutes for metformin and 6.0 minutes for curcumin. Validation followed International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines, assessing linearity, precision, accuracy, and sensitivity. RESULTS: The method demonstrated high linearity (R2>0.999), precision (%RSD <2%), and accuracy with recovery rates close to 100%. Sensitivity tests showed low limits of detection and limits of quantification, indicating robustness and reliability for routine analysis. CONCLUSION: The validated RP-HPLC method is efficient and cost-effective, enabling robust analysis of metformin and curcumin in combined pharmaceutical formulations. This method is ideal for quality control laboratories and holds potential for biological sample analysis in clinical research on combined treatments.