A feasible fluorimetric approach anchored in diaryl pyrrolone derivative for the facile analysis of milnacipran in tablets; evaluation of the method greenness

In the present work a new, feasible, and green approach was employed for the analysis of milnacipran. A drug is used in the management of depression in addition to fibromyalgia. It inhibits of the reuptake of two essential neurotransmitters serotonin and nor-adrenaline. In slightly alkaline buffer (pH 8.5) the primary amino group of milnacipran reacted with fluorescamine to give a substituted pyrrolone derivative which exhibited high fluorescence activity. The fluorescence of produced derivative was measured at (λ_ex 385 nm, λ_em 477 nm), and the experimental factors were cautiously optimized. The measured intensity of fluorescence was plotted versus the respective concentration of milnacipran to setup the calibration plot which has a linear concentration range of 50-300 ng/mL. The ICH guidelines were utilized to totally validate the presented approach. In addition the method could be efficiently incorporated in the analysis of commercial milnacipram tablets with no considerable effect on the results of the assay for milnacipran. The developed approach is characterized by its high simplicity and greenness of the procedure which make it suitable for routine analysis.