Abstract:
Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It is also called psychoactive drugs but it is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world. Caffeine is a bitter, white
crystalline purine and a methylxanthine alkaloid. The purpose of this study is to identify and determine the amount of caffeine in soft drinks by reverse phase HPLC method. Six branded
soft drinks were taken which include two of the top brand samples. Quantitative analysis was
done by reverse phase HPLC method with methanol: water (40:60v/v) as mobile phase and
C18 a stationary phase with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and maximum UV 254 nm as the detector.
The minimum caffeine level of soft drinks was observed in Mojo (23 mg/per 250 ml bottle),
while the sample Current showed the highest caffeine content (199 mg/per 250 ml bottle). The
levels of caffeine in all energy drinks samples are well below the maximum allowable limits
set by the food regulatory bodies because regulatory bodies suggest that the daily intake of
caffeine for healthy adults with no medical issues is 300 mg-400 mg can be safe without any
adverse effects but they are not recommended to take more than 200 mg caffeine for pregnant or
lactating women and children.
