Separation and determination of rofecoxib and its degradation products by TLC chromatography

A thin layer chromatography with densitometry method for the determination of rofecoxib and degradation products is described. The chromatographic separation was performed on silica gel TLC plates as a stationary phase and chloroform-acetone-toluene-glacial acetic acid (12: 5: 2: 0.1, v/v/v/v) as a mobile phase. Densitimetric detection was carried out at 256 nm. The method is of high sensitivity and low LOD and LOQ: from 0.35 μg/spot to 1.05 μg/spot. The recovery was satisfactory at 98.62%. In addition, the stability of rofecoxib in solutions was investigated, including an effect of solution pH, temperature and incubation time. The method is rapid, easy and selective, particularly for the analysis of rofecoxib formulations.