Evaluation of degradation kinetics for abamectin in formulations using a stability indicating method

The aim of this study was to evaluate stability characteristics and kinetics behavior of abamectin (ABM) as a 1 % (m/V) topical veterinary solution. During the study, samples stressed at 55 and 70 °C were regularly analyzed for several parameters over 8 weeks on a chromatographic (HPLC) system, using a Prodigy C18, 250 x 4.6 mm, 5-μm, column eluting with 15 : 34 : 51 (V/V/V) water/methanol/ acetonitrile as mobile phase. The HPLC method was validated for precision, accuracy, linearity and specificity, and was found to be stability indicating. The results showed that degradation of ABM followed first-order kinetics and data on loss in kobs (s-1) and half life (t1/2, days) demonstrated ABM showing the maximum stability in glycerol formal. The degradation behavior of ABM varies from solvent to solvent. The effect of added alkali on pH change and loss of ABM was studied and found to be unique for all solvents and very distinct from typical hydrolysis degradation. The present study may serve as a platform to design and develop topical non-aqueous solutions of ABM for veterinary use given no such comprehensive efforts have been published to date on the stability profile of ABM in non-aqueous solvents.