Abstract
The electrochemical reduction behavior of mefloquine HCl (MEF), the antimalarial drug, was studied in aqueous alcoholic media at a hanging mercury drop electrode. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed one well‐defined reduction peak and one ill‐defined reduction wave between pH 1.5 and 12.03. The reduction was found as irreversible or quasireversible depending on pH and exhibited diffusion controlled process. The mechanism of reduction process was discussed. A systematic study of the experimental parameters that affect the differential pulse and square wave response was carried out and the optimized experimental conditions were obtained. The calibration plots were derived for the determination of MEF in pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological samples. DPV and SWV techniques for the determination of MEF in Britton–Robinson buffer at pH 11.10, which allows quantitation over the 6×10^−6^ to 8×10^−5^ M range in the supporting electrolyte, were proposed. The linear response was obtained in samples in the ranges of 6×10^−6^ to 6×10^−5^ M for both techniques. These methods are fully validated. The standard addition method was used in the biological media. No electroactive interferences from the excipients and endogenous substances were found in tablets and biological fluids.