Simple and precise UV spectrophotometric methods by area under curve [AUC] and second order derivative methods have been developed and validated for the estimation of candesartan cilexetil in bulk and its tablet formulation. The standard and sample solutions of candesartan cilexetil were prepared in methanol. Candesartan cilexetil was estimated in area under curve (AUC) method (A), the zero order spectrum was measured in between 250 nm to 260 nm and at 232.7 nm for the second order derivative UV-spectrophotometric method (B). In AUC method, Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1 to 14 μg / ml with coefficient of correlation value 0.9999. Similarly Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1 to 14 μg / ml with coefficient of correlation value 0.9997 for second order derivative method. These methods were tested and validated for various parameters according to ICH guidelines. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation were of 0.6182 % and 2.5548 % for the above two methods respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of Candesartan cilexetil in pharmaceutical formulation. Results of the analysis were validated statistically and were found to be satisfactory. The proposed methods are simple, easy to apply, low-cost and require relatively inexpensive instruments.
