ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Microbiological assay of the active component of ampicillin in ampicillin and ampicillin/cloxacillin suspensions using Bacillus megatharium NCTC 10342A76 as indicator organism
Udobi Chinweizu Ejikeme* and Onaolapo Josiah Ademola
College of Science and Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Accepted 19 August, 2014
Abstract
51 different samples from 5 different manufacturers of ampicillin and ampicillin/cloxacillin suspensions were tested for their levels of active components of ampicillin using the microbiological assay method. Bacillus megathariumNCTC10342A76 was selected from amongst a wide range of organisms screened for this purpose because of its detected suitability. Thin layer chromatography and infra red spectrophotometric analysis confirmed the presence of ampicillin in all the samples and the results obtained showed that the percentage ampicillin content ranged from 57 - 162. Products of MAN-A07 had ampicillin levels less than that recommended by the reference books while one batch from MAN A06 had ampicillin levels higher than the recommended levels. This work is discussed in the context of the proliferation and misuse of ampicillin especially for children.
Key words: Microbiological assay, Bacillus megatharium, ampicillin, cloxacillin, chromatography.