ANALYTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE UNDER FORCED DEGRADATION CONDITIONS

Abstract

Forced degradation studies are essential to evaluate the stability profile and identify potential degradation pathways of pharmaceutical compounds. Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was subjected to forced degradation under stress conditions including hydrolytic, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal environments. The degradation behavior was investigated using UV–Visible spectrophotometry and further validated by microbiological assay against selected bacterial strains. UV spectrophotometric analysis provided quantitative data on drug degradation by monitoring absorbance changes at characteristic wavelengths, while microbiological assay confirmed the impact of degradation on antimicrobial potency. Results revealed significant susceptibility of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride to oxidative and photolytic stress, leading to reduced drug stability and diminished antibacterial activity. Hydrolytic and thermal degradation exhibited moderate effects. The combined analytical and microbiological approach provided a comprehensive evaluation of both chemical stability and biological efficacy. These findings emphasize the importance of forced degradation studies in ensuring drug quality, safety, and therapeutic reliability throughout storage and handling