Scientific Validation of HPTLC Method for Quantitative Estimation of Alkaloid and Flavonoids from Oxalis corniculata

Background: Oxalis corniculata Linn. belongs to Oxalidaceae family. It is an herbaceous plant abundant in mountain regions of India. It is one of the most adaptable and popular medicinal plants having a broad spectrum of biological activity.

Objectives: The aim of the work is to ascertain the level of an antioxidant properties of different solvent extracts of Oxalis corniculata plant.

Materials and Methods: A precise and accurate high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for quantitative estimation of alkaloids and flavonoids from leaf ethanol extract of Oxalis corniculata was developed. The method employed high-performance thin-layer chromatography aluminum plate, silica coated with fluorescent indicator F254 (10x10 cm) as stationary phase and the separation was achieved by using a suitable mobile phase n-Butanol - Glacial acetic acid-water (3:-1:-1), ethyl acetate-butanone-formic acid-water (5:3:1:1) and Dragendorff’s reagent followed by 10% ethanolic sulphuric acid (for alkaloids) 1% ethanolic Aluminium chloride reagent (for flavonoids) were used for detection. The Peak table, Peak display and Peak densitogram were noted by using software winCATS 1.3.4 version.

Results: Among the phytoconstitution, alkaloids and flavonoids found more abundant. Yellow, Yellowish blue fluorescent colour zone at UV 366 nm mode were there in the tracks, it was observed from the chromatogram after derivatization, which confirmed the presence of flavonoid. ABTS assay, the maximum scavenging activity was seen at a concentration of 1000 μg/ml and lowest 2 μg/ml.

Conclusion: The extracts of the aerial parts of oxalis corniculata are the source of natural antioxidants which can be accounted for the traditional uses in prevention of disease and health preservation.