An HPTLC Method for the Evaluation of Two Medicinal Plants Commercially Available in the Indian Market Under the Common Trade Name Brahmadandi

Brahmadandi is an important medicinal plant used in the Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda) for the treatment of numerous diseases. A literature search revealed that different plants are available on the market under the trade name Brahmadandi viz., roots of Echinops echinatus Roxb, and the aerial parts of Tricholepis glaberrima DC which are sold either in their crude or in powdered form. Currently, no analytical procedures appear to be available for quality control purposes. In the present communication, we report a simple HPTLC method for the quantification of the lupeol content in the aforementioned plant species. The method was validated for precision, repeatability and accuracy. Instrument precision and repeatability of the method were found to be 0.56 and 2.87 %RSD, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision of the method was determined to be in the ranges of 0.71–2.02 and 1.03–2.02 %RSD, respectively. Accuracy of the method was evaluated by a recovery study conducted at three different levels. The mean percentage recovery was found to be 100.85%. The developed HPTLC method for estimation of lupeol was found to be simple, precise and accurate and may be useful for routine quality control of the commercial samples of Brahmadandi.