Abstract. Zero-, first- and second-order derivative spectrophotometric methods were developed for the analysis of nebivolol. The solutions of the standards and pharmaceutical samples were prepared in methanol. Absorbances of nebivolol were measured at 282 nm for the zero-order by measuring height of peak from zero, at 278, 286 and 294 nm for the first and 280 and 291 second-order derivative spectrophotometric method by measuring peak to peak height. The type of solvent, the degree of derivation, range of wavelength and n value were chosen in order to optimize the conditions.  The linearity ranges were found to be 2.0-14 µg mL-1 for the zero, first- and second-order derivative spectrophotometric methods. The detection and quantitation limits were found to be 0.500, 1.515 µg mL-1 for the zero-, 0.600, 1.818 µg mL-1 for first- and second-order derivative spectrophotometric methods, respectively. The developed zero-, first- and second-order derivative spectrophotometric methods in this study are accurate, sensitive, precise, and reproducible and can be directly and easily applied to the pharmaceutical preparation. Also, the results obtained from three derivative spectrophotometric methods were compared and no significant difference was found statistically.

 

KEY WORDS: Nebivolol, Zero-, First-, Second-order Derivative Spectrophotometric Methods, Pharmaceutical Preparation.