IMPACT OF REGIONAL VARIATION ON β-SITOSTEROL CONTENT IN VITEX NEGUNDO LINN. FRUITS: EVALUATION USING HPTLC

Abstract

Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae) fruits are reported to possess a wide range of therapeutic properties. The present work is an attempt to evaluate the impact of regional variation on the content of β-sitosterol in V. negundo fruits using validated HPTLC method. Chromatographic separation was achieved on TLC plate pre-coated with silica gel 60 F254 using toluene: ethyl acetate: methanol: glacial acetic acid (8:1:0.5:0.3, v/v/v/v) as a mobile phase. Detection of β-sitosterol was carried out by derivatizing the plate with 10% methanolic sulphuric acid reagent followed by densitometric scanning using CAMAG TLC scanner 4 at 366 nm. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. Statistical analysis of the data reveals that the content of marker in the samples from different geographical regions varied significantly.