Simple Thin-Layer Chromatographic Method for Analysis of Ranitidine in its Pharmaceutical Formulations: Application to the Analysis of Photolytic Degradation Products

Thin-layer chromatography and high-performance thin-layer chromatography have been used for analysis of ranitidine hydrochloride standard, the components of ranitidine medications (Ranic, Ranisan, Ranitin, Ranigast, and Zantac), and the products from photolytic degradation of these medications. Chromatograms were developed with methanol-water, methanol-acetonitrile, methanol-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol-aqueous ammonia solution, methanol-ethyl acetate, and acetonitrile-DMSO mobile phases. Retention and separation were compared and the applicability of particular mobile phases for analysis of ranitidine standard and the products obtained from photolysis of ranitidine generic drugs was studied.