A simple, rapid and fully automated flow injection method (FIA) with chemiluminescence detection after oxidation with KMnO4 in acid medium at room temperature has been developed for the determination of rutine in pharmaceutical formulation. Hexamethaphosphate sodium was utilized as enhancer of chemiluminescence. The calibration curvewas linear in the range 0.01–0.26 mmol.l-1 with detection limit 0.005mmol.l-1,RSD 0.46% (n=10) and a sample throughput of 75.h-1 using a 200 µl sample volume. The method was used for the determination of rutine in mass-produced dosage form: Rutin 250 tablets á 50 mg, (firm Nature’s Bounty, USA). The FIA method was statistically compared with the official German Pharmacopoeia method and showed comparable accuracy, but with the advantages of simplicity, speed and amounts of reagents consumed.

        Key words: rutine – pharmaceutical formulation – oxidation – flow injection analysis – chemiluminescence determination