Simple and rapid spectrophotometric methods (Zero order- methods M1 & M2 and first order derivative- methods M3 & M4) were developed and validated for the quantification of cefdinir and cefditoren in bulk and in pharmaceutical dosage form. Methanol is used as diluent in all the proposed methods. Absorbance of cefdinir and cefditoren solutions were measured at 286 nm (M1) and 230 nm (M2), respectively for the zero order. In methods, M3 and M4, zero-order spectra were derivatized into first-order and absorbance of cefdinir and cefditoren solutions were measured at 272 nm (M3) and 225 nm (M4), respectively. The linearity ranges were found to be 5-15 μg/ml for the methods M1-M4. The methods were validated as indicated by the ICH guidelines and applied to the estimation of cefdinir and cefditoren in pharmaceutical dosage forms. It was concluded that the methods developed were sensitive, precise, robust, rugged, accurate and useful for the quality control of cefdinir and cefditoren in pharmaceutical dosage forms.
