HPTLC Fingerprinting of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten from High Altitude Area of Western Himalaya

Abstract

To establish the fingerprint profile of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten from the high altitude area of the western Himalaya using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Dried and powdered plant material of S. chirayita was successively extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol in the order of increasing polarity. The extracts so obtained were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and based on the presence and/or absence of phytochemical constituents, HPTLC fingerprinting analysis of ethyl acetate and methanol extract were carried out using CAMAG HPTLC system. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, saponins and lipids in various extracts. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts contained the maximum number of phytochemicals. HPTLC phytochemical fingerprinting led to the detection of altogether 21 compounds in ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. However, greater numbers of compounds were detected in methanol extracts as compared to ethyl acetate extract. The chromatographic fingerprinting revealed the presence and variation in the phytochemical constituents with change in the polarity of the solvents. Further studies are required for the quantification of the compounds in various extracts and evaluation of their medicinal activities.