Inhibitory effect of the Ascorbic Acid on photodegradation of pharmaceuticals compounds exposed to UV-B radiation

Abstract

The inhibitory effect of Ascorbic Acid (AA) on some pharmaceuticals compounds most commercialized in Chile when are exposed to the UV-B radiation was studied. The Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) paracetamol, ibuprofen, and ketoprofen, the fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin and the statin atorvastatine were tested using plasma concentrations. The pharmaceutical solutions without and with AA were irradiated with irradiation dose of 216μW cm−2 and its constant and percentage of photodegradation was determined. The results showed that the most of the pharmaceuticals solutions are unstable to UV-B radiation, with the exception of paracetamol, which remained stable after 120 minutes of irradiation. The ketoprofen and ciprofloxacin solutions were the most unstable, reaching a 100 % of photodegradation. The incorporation of AA decreases the percentage and photodegradation constant in all pharmaceuticals solutions. The inhibitory effect on UV-B radiation produced by the AA, can be due to the ability of this vitamin of act as screener or UV light absorbers or react with free radicals and reducing reactive oxygen species, which would cause the structural degradation of drugs.

Keywords

• Ascorbic acid
• Inhibitory effect
• Pharmaceuticals
• Photodegradation
• Radiation UV-B