Differential pulse polarographic determination of hydrocortisone in pharmaceutical preparations

Abstract Differential pulse polarograms of hydrocortisone recorded from acetate buffer pH 4.6 exhibit a well-defined peak at —1.25 V vs. SCE and the peak current is proportional to the concentration in the range 10 -5 –8 × 10 -5 M. The electrode reaction involves one electron and one hydrogen ion. A simple rapid method is proposed for the determination of hydrocortisone in creams and ointments. The procedure does not involve time-consuming extractions, but it is not applicable to samples containing surfactants like polyethyleneglycol which are more strongly adsorbed on the electrode than hydrocortisone. Because degradation in the side chain of hydrocortisone is not detected polarographically, the method is suitable for production control but not for stability tests.