Development and validation of a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method, with densitometry, for quantitative analysis of ketorolac tromethamine in human plasma.

Ketorolac tromethamine is a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is widely used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. A new method was developed and validated for quantifying ketorolac (the free acid of the tromethamine salt) in human plasma by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. The stationary phase was silica gel 60, and the composition of the mobile phase was n-butanol-chloroform-acetic acid-ammonium hydroxide-water (9 + 3 + 5 + 1 + 2, v/v). The densitometric analysis of ketorolac was performed at 323 nm. The method was validated for precision (repeatability and reproducibility), accuracy, and sensitivity. Repeatability was 10.11% [coefficient of variation (CV)] and reproducibility was 12.18% (CV) as the maximum variation. Accuracy was determined at 3 different concentration levels, and results were within +/-15% of the predetermined range. Data were fitted by a linear mathematical function (linear regression). The calibration graph was linear in the range of 200-2000 ng/mL. Average recovery was 73.67%. The method proved to be accurate, precise, and sensitive for the ketorolac tromethamine quantification.