Identification
Mix the contents of 1Capsule with water to obtain a concentration of about 3mg of cephalexin per mL,and filter (test solution).Place a suitable thin-layer chromatographic plate (see
Chromatography á621ñ)coated with a 0.25-mm layer of binder-free silica gel in a chamber containing a mixture of
n-hexane and tetradecane (95:5)to a depth of about 1cm,allow the solvent front to move the length of the plate,remove the plate from the chamber,and allow the solvent to evaporate.On this plate apply 10µLeach of the test solution and a Standard solution containing 3mg of
USP Cephalexin RSper mL.Allow the spots to dry,and develop the chromatogram in a solvent system consisting of a mixture of 0.1
Mcitric acid,0.1
Mdibasic sodium phosphate,and a 1in 15solution of ninhydrin in acetone (60:40:1.5)until the solvent front has moved about three-fourths of the length of the plate.Remove the plate from the developing chamber,mark the solvent front,dry the plate for 10minutes at 110

,and examine the chromatogram:the
RFvalue of the principal spot obtained from the test solution corresponds to that obtained from the Standard solution.
Dissolution á711ñ
Medium:
water;900mL.
Apparatus 1:
100rpm.
Time:
30minutes.
Procedure
Determine the amount of C
16H
17N
3O
4Sdissolved from the UVabsorbances at the wavelength of maximum absorbance at about 262nm of a filtered portion of the solution under test,suitably diluted with
Dissolution Medium,if necessary,to a concentration of about 20µg per mL,in comparison with a Standard solution having a known concentration of
USP Cephalexin RSin the same medium.
Tolerances
Not less than 80%(Q)of the labeled amount of C16H17N3O4Sis dissolved in 30minutes.
Assay
Mobile phase
,
Internal standard solution,
Standard preparation,and
Chromatographic systemPrepare as directed in the
Assayunder
Cephalexin.
Assay preparation
Remove,as completely as possible,the contents of not less than 20Capsules,and weigh accurately.Mix the combined contents,and transfer an accurately weighed quantity,equivalent to about 500mg of cephalexin,to a 500-mLvolumetric flask,add water to volume,and mix.Sonicate,if necessary,to assure complete dissolution of the cephalexin.Filter,if necessary,to obtain a clear solution.Transfer 10.0mLof this solution to a 50-mL,glass-stoppered flask,add 15.0mLof Internal standard solution,mix,and filter.
Procedure
Proceed as directed for
Procedurein the
Assayunder
Cephalexin.Calculate the quantity,in mg,of C
16H
17N
3O
4Sin the portion of Capsules taken by the formula:
0.5CP(RU/RS),
in which the terms are as defined therein.