Abstract

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, more commonly known as ‘statins’, are widely used for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with established cardiovascular disease as well as those at high risk of developing atherosclerosis. The great importance of this drugs requires development of effective analytical methods involving high sensitivity and resolution. The spectroscopy and the liquid chromatography are well established methods in the field of pharmaceutical analysis. Various spectroscopic and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for determination of statins, their related impurities and co-administered drugs in the bulk drug forms and pharmaceutical formulations are reviewed.