HPLC Fingerprint Analysis Coupled with Multivariate Analysis for Quality Assessment of Picrorhiza kurroa Rhizomes

Abstract

Background: Kutki, the dried rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth belonging to the family of Scrophulariaceae, has been utilized globally for liver ailments. Objective: Comprehensive use of kutki needs to evaluate its role as a quality control tool for dis-crimination of kutki samples, and therefore an effective HPLC fingerprinting method was estab-lished. Methods: Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (RP-HPLC-PDA) detection method coupled with multivariate analysis was developed, which was mod-est, consistent and, accurate for classification of 11 kutki samples including authentic Picrorhiza kurroa rhizomes from the market of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India. Results: The method was validated for various parameters like precision, reproducibility, and stabil-ity. The lowest value of the % relative standard deviations (RSD) was 1.31%. Chromatographic fin-gerprint profiles of 11 kutki samples, including authenticated samples, were obtained by this meth-od, which showed a total of 28 peaks, and 9 peaks were important among them. Chemometric tech-niques like PCA and HCA were applied to identify the kutki samples.The Samples of kutki could be exquisitely differentiated into two clusters. Conclusion: HPLC-PDA method coupled with multivariate analysis divulged that chromatographic fingerprint analysis was reliable and effective for quality assessment and discrimination of kutki samples.