Quality evaluation of antimalarial drugs used in Djibouti: A study of Quinine, Primaquine, Artesunate, and Coartem formulations

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Djibouti, with cases rising in recentyears. The quality of antimalarial drugs, particularly those imported from countries with lessstringent regulatory frameworks, is a critical concern. This study aimed to evaluate the qualityof commonly used antimalarial drugs in Djibouti, including quinine, primaquine, artesunate,and Coartem. A series of analytical techniques, such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC),spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), were employed to assess the composition, purity, and dosage accuracy of thesemedications. The findings revealed that some samples contained impurities and the content ofactive pharmaceutical ingredients often deviated from the labelled amounts. Specifically,quinine tablets were found to be 29% underdosed compared with the labelled 300 mg, with anactual content of 212.69 mg per tablet. In the LC-MS analysis, besides the active ingredientslisted on the labels, derivatives such as dihydroquinine and artemisinin were identified. Thesediscrepancies compared with the labels may be attributed to these medicines’ productionand/or storage conditions.

Keywords: Analysis; Antibiotic; Djibouti; HPLC; spectrophotometer; TLC