EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA 10.
0 Prednisone
Reference solution (b). Dilute 1.0 mL of the test solution to
50.0 mL with the mobile phase.
Column :
– size : l = 0.15 m, Ø = 4.6 mm ;
– stationary phase : octadecylsilyl silica gel for
chromatography R (5 μm).
Mobile phase : into a 250 mL conical flask weigh 1.360 g
of potassium dihydrogen phosphate R and 0.600 g of
hexylamine R, mix, allow to stand for 10 min, then dissolve
in 185 mL of water R ; add 65 mL of acetonitrile R, mix, and
filter through a 0.45 μm filter.
Flow rate : 1 mL/min.
Detection : spectrophotometer at 254 nm.
Equilibration : with the mobile phase for about 30 min.
Injection : 20 μL.
Run time : 3 times the retention time of prednisolone sodium
phosphate.
Retention time : prednisolone sodium phosphate = about
6.5 min ; prednisolone = about 8.5 min.
System suitability : reference solution (a) :
– resolution : minimum 4.5 between the peaks due to
prednisolone sodium phosphate and prednisolone ; if
necessary, increase the concentration of acetonitrile R or
water R in the mobile phase.
Limits :
– any impurity : for each impurity, not more than the area
of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with
reference solution (b) (2 per cent), and not more than
1 such peak has an area greater than 0.5 times the area
of the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with
reference solution (b) (1 per cent) ;
– total : not more than 1.5 times the area of the principal peak
in the chromatogram obtained with reference solution (b)
(3 per cent) ;
– disregard limit : 0.025 times the area of the principal peak
in the chromatogram obtained with reference solution (b)
(0.05 per cent).
Inorganic phosphate : maximum 1 per cent.
Dissolve 50 mg in water R and dilute to 100 mL with the same
solvent. To 10 mL of this solution add 5 mL of molybdovanadic
reagent R, mix, and allow to stand for 5 min. Any yellow
colour in the solution is not more intense than that in a
standard prepared at the same time and in the same manner
using 10 mL of phosphate standard solution (5 ppm PO4) R.
Water (2.5.12) : maximum 8.0 per cent, determined on 0.200 g.
ASSAY
Dissolve 0.100 g in water R and dilute to 100.0 mL with the
same solvent. Dilute 5.0 mL of this solution to 250.0 mL with
water R. Measure the absorbance (2.2.25) at the absorption
maximum at 247 nm.
Calculate the content of C21H27Na2O8P taking the specific
absorbance to be 312.
STORAGE
Protected from light.
General Notices (1) apply to all monographs and other texts
01/2018:0354
PREDNISONE
Prednisonum
C21H26O5 Mr 358.4
[53-03-2]
DEFINITION
17,21-Dihydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,11,20-trione.
Content : 97.0 per cent to 102.0 per cent (dried substance).
CHARACTERS
Appearance : white or almost white, crystalline powder.
Solubility : practically insoluble in water, slightly soluble in
ethanol (96 per cent) and in methylene chloride.
It shows polymorphism (5.9).
IDENTIFICATION
First identification : A, C.
Second identification : B, D.
A. Infrared absorption spectrophotometry (2.2.24).
Comparison : prednisone CRS.
If the spectra obtained in the solid state show differences,
dissolve the substance to be examined and the reference
substance separately in the minimum volume of acetone R,
evaporate to dryness on a water-bath and record new
spectra using the residues.
B. Thin-layer chromatography (2.2.27).
Solvent mixture : methanol R, methylene chloride R
(1:9 V/V).
Test solution. Dissolve 10 mg of the substance to be
examined in the solvent mixture and dilute to 10 mL with
the solvent mixture.
Reference solution (a). Dissolve 20 mg of prednisone CRS
in the solvent mixture and dilute to 20 mL with the solvent
mixture.
Reference solution (b). Dissolve 10 mg of betamethasone CRS
in reference solution (a) and dilute to 10 mL with reference
solution (a).
Plate : TLC silica gel F254 plate R.
Mobile phase : add a mixture of 1.2 volumes of water R and
8 volumes of methanol R to a mixture of 15 volumes of
ether R and 77 volumes of methylene chloride R.
Application : 5 μL.
Development : over a path of 15 cm.
Drying : in air.
Detection A : examine in ultraviolet light at 254 nm.
Results A : the principal spot in the chromatogram obtained
with the test solution is similar in position and size to
the principal spot in the chromatogram obtained with
reference solution (a).
Detection B : spray with alcoholic solution of sulfuric acid R.
Heat at 120 °C for 10 min or until the spots appear. Allow to
cool. Examine in daylight and in ultraviolet light at 365 nm.
3631
Prednisone
Results B : the principal spot in the chromatogram obtained
with the test solution is similar in position, colour in
daylight, fluorescence in ultraviolet light at 365 nm and
size to the principal spot in the chromatogram obtained
with reference solution (a).
System suitability : reference solution (b) :
– the chromatogram shows 2 clearly separated spots.
C. Examine the chromatograms obtained in the assay.
Results : the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained
with test solution (b) is similar in retention time and size
to the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with
reference solution (d).
D. Add about 2 mg to 2 mL of sulfuric acid R and shake to
dissolve. Within 5 min, a yellow colour develops with a
blue fluorescence in ultraviolet light at 365 nm. Add this
solution to 10 mL of water R and mix. The colour fades but
the blue fluorescence in ultraviolet light does not disappear.
TESTS
Specific optical rotation (2.2.7) : + 183 to + 191 (dried
substance).
Dissolve 0.125 g in ethanol (96 per cent) R and dilute to
25.0 mL with the same solvent.
Related substances. Liquid chromatography (2.2.29).
Carry out the test protected from light. Prepare the solutions
immediately before use.
Solvent mixture : acetonitrile for chromatography R, water for
chromatography R (50:50 V/V).
Test solution (a). Dissolve 20.0 mg of the substance to be
examined in the solvent mixture and dilute to 25.0 mL with
the solvent mixture.
Test solution (b). Dilute 5.0 mL of test solution (a) to 20.0 mL
with the solvent mixture.
Reference solution (a). Dissolve 10 mg of prednisone
impurity B CRS in the solvent mixture and dilute to 25.0 mL
with the solvent mixture. Dilute 1.0 mL of the solution to
50.0 mL with the solvent mixture.
Reference solution (b). Dissolve 4 mg of prednisone for peak
identification CRS (containing impurities A, D and E) in the
solvent mixture, add 1.0 mL of reference solution (a) and
dilute to 5.0 mL with the solvent mixture.
Reference solution (c). Dilute 1.0 mL of test solution (a) to
100.0 mL with the solvent mixture. Dilute 1.0 mL of this
solution to 10.0 mL with the solvent mixture.
Reference solution (d). Dissolve 20.0 mg of prednisone CRS in
the solvent mixture and dilute to 25.0 mL with the solvent
mixture. Dilute 5.0 mL of the solution to 20.0 mL with the
solvent mixture.
Column :
– size : l = 0.15 m, Ø = 3.0 mm ;
– stationary phase : end-capped ethylene-bridged
polar-embedded octadecylsilyl silica gel for chromatography
(hybrid material) R (2.5 μm) ;
– temperature : 45 °C.
Mobile phase :
– mobile phase A : 0.68 g/L solution of potassium dihydrogen
phosphate R, adjusted to pH 2.0 with phosphoric acid R ;
– mobile phase B : acetonitrile for chromatography R ;
Time Mobile phase A Mobile phase B
(min) (per cent V/V) (per cent V/V)
0-2 83 17
2 - 25 83 → 80 17 → 20
25 - 28 80 → 65 20 → 35
28 - 33 65 35
33 - 43 65 → 20 35 → 80
3632
EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA 10.0
Flow rate : 0.6 mL/min.
Detection : spectrophotometer at 244 nm.
Injection : 5 μL of test solution (a) and reference solutions (a),
(b) and (c).
Identification of impurities: Use the chromatogram supplied
with prednisone for peak identification CRS and the
chromatogram obtained with reference solution (b) to identify
the peaks due to impurities A, D and E ; use the chromatogram
obtained with reference solution (a) to identify the peak due
to impurity B.
Relative retention with reference to prednisone (retention
time = about 18 min) : impurity B = about 1.06 ;
impurity A = about 1.12 ; impurity D = about 1.6 ;
impurity E = about 1.9.
System suitability : reference solution (b) :
– peak-to-valley ratio : minimum 2.5, where Hp = height
above the baseline of the peak due to impurity B and
Hv = height above the baseline of the lowest point of the
curve separating this peak from the peak due to prednisone.
Calculation of percentage contents :
– for each impurity, use the concentration of prednisone in
reference solution (c).
Limits :
– impurity A : maximum 0.5 per cent ;
– impurity E : maximum 0.2 per cent ;
– impurity D : maximum 0.15 per cent ;
– unspecified impurities : for each impurity, maximum
0.10 per cent ;
– total : maximum 1.0 per cent ;
– reporting threshold : 0.05 per cent.
Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 1.0 per cent, determined
on 0.500 g by drying in an oven at 105 °C.
ASSAY
Carry out the test protected from light. Prepare the solutions
immediately before use.
Liquid chromatography (2.2.29) as described in the test for
related substances with the following modification.
Injection : test solution (b) and reference solution (d).
Calculate the percentage content of C21H26O5 taking into
account the assigned content of prednisone CRS.
STORAGE
Protected from light.
IMPURITIES
Specified impurities : A, D, E.
Other detectable impurities (the following substances would,
if present at a sufficient level, be detected by one or other of
the tests in the monograph. They are limited by the general
acceptance criterion for other/unspecified impurities and/or
by the general monograph Substances for pharmaceutical
use (2034). It is therefore not necessary to identify these
impurities for demonstration of compliance. See also 5.10.
Control of impurities in substances for pharmaceutical use) :
B, C, F, G, J, K, L.
A. 17,21-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,11,20-trione (cortisone),
See the information section on general monographs (cover pages)
EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA 10.0 Pregabalin

07/2017:2777

PREGABALIN
B. 11β,17,21-trihydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione Pregabalinum
(prednisolone),

C8H17NO2 Mr 159.2
[148553-50-8]
DEFINITION
C. 17-hydroxy-3,11,20-trioxopregna-1,4-dien-21-al (3S)-3-(Aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid.
(prednisone-21-aldehyde), Content : 98.0 per cent to 102.0 per cent (anhydrous substance).
CHARACTERS
Appearance : white or almost white powder.
Solubility : sparingly soluble in water, very slightly soluble in
methanol, practically insoluble in heptane.
IDENTIFICATION
A. Infrared absorption spectrophotometry (2.2.24).
D. 17,21-dihydroxypregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione Comparison : pregabalin CRS.
(deltacortinene), B. Examine the chromatograms obtained in the test for
enantiomeric purity.
Results : the principal peak in the chromatogram obtained
with the test solution is similar in retention time to the
principal peak in the chromatogram obtained with the
reference solution.
TESTS
Enantiomeric purity. Liquid chromatography (2.2.29) : use
E. 17-hydroxy-3,11,20-trioxopregna-1,4-dien-21-yl acetate the normalisation procedure.
(prednisone acetate),
Test solution. Dissolve 20 mg of the substance to be examined
F. unknown structure, in water R and dilute to 10.0 mL with the same solvent.
Derivatise the solution as described under Derivatisation.
G. unknown structure, Reference solution. Dissolve 2 mg of pregabalin impurity B CRS
in water R and dilute to 20.0 mL with the same solvent. Dilute
1.0 mL of the solution to 10.0 mL with water R. To 20 mg
of pregabalin CRS, add 1.0 mL of this solution and dilute to
10.0 mL with water R. Derivatise this solution as described
under Derivatisation.
Derivatisation. Transfer 500 μL of the solution to
a reaction vial. Add 500 μL of a 5 g/L solution of
1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-L-alaninamide R in acetonitrile R.
J. 17α-hydroxy-3,11-dioxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17β-carboxylic Add 50 μL of an 84 g/L solution of sodium hydrogen
acid, carbonate R. Seal the vial, mix and derivatise by maintaining
the vial at 40 °C for 1 h in a heating/stirring module. Stop
the reaction by adding about 50 μL of a 103 g/L solution
of hydrochloric acid R. Mix thoroughly. To 200 μL of the
derivatised solution add 800 μL of the mobile phase.
Column :
– size : l = 0.25 m, Ø = 4.6 mm ;
– stationary phase : base-deactivated end-capped octadecylsilyl
K. androsta-1,4-diene-3,11,17-trione, silica gel for chromatography R (5 μm) ;
– temperature : 30 °C.
Mobile phase : acetonitrile R, 1 per cent V/V solution of
triethylamine R previously adjusted to pH 3.0 with phosphoric
acid R (38:62 V/V).
Flow rate : 2.0 mL/min.
Detection : spectrophotometer at 340 nm.
Injection : 20 μL.
L. 11β,17-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxopregna-1,4-dien-21-yl acetate Run time : 2.5 times the retention time of the pregabalin
(prednisolone acetate). derivative.

General Notices (1) apply to all monographs and other texts 3633