Differential pulse polarographic investigation of lansoprazole and rabeprazole using dropping mercury electrode.

The electrochemical reduction of the proton pump inhibitors (PPI) lansoprazole and rabeprazole has been investigated by differential pulse polarography (DPP) using a dropping mercury electrode (DME). The results were compared not only among both substances but also among other proton pump inhibitors depending on the varying chemical structures of the agents. All investigations were carried out in Britton-Robinson buffer solutions with pH values from 3.0 to 11.0. It was shown that both PPI undergo an extensive decomposition decreasing with increasing pH values forming two main compounds, a cyclic sulfenamide and a dimer. In this case lansoprazole was found to be stable at pH 8.0 and rabeprazole at pH 9.0. The decomposition of rabeprazole ran considerably quicker and also up to higher pH values than those of lansoprazole. The peak currents varied linearly with the concentration of both PPI in the range from 1 x 10(-6) M to 7 x 10(-5) M at pH 9.0. Both substances showed similarities in reaction as well as individual differences based on their varying chemical structures and characteristics.