Simultaneous quantification of eight bioactive secondary metabolites from Codonopsis ovata by validated high performance thin layer chromatography and their antioxidant profile.

Chemical investigation of Codonopsis ovata resulted in the isolation and identification of β-sitosterol-3-O-glycoside, luteolin, apigenin, gentiacaulein, swertiaperenine, β-sitosterol, taraxeryl-3-acetate, and 3β-acetoxyoleanane-12-one. A rapid, precise, sensitive and validated HPTLC method for simultaneous quantification of these natural products (NPs) was developed on silica-gel 60F254 plate using ternary solvent system, n-hexane:ethyl acetate:formic acid (10.5:3.5:0.43, v/v/v). Markers were quantified after post chromatographic derivatization with cerric ammonium sulfate reagent. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ and all calibration curves showed a good linear relationship (r>0.9924) within test range. Precision was evaluated by intra- and inter-day tests with RSDs <2.59%, accuracy validation recovery 92.43-99.50% with RSDs <1.00%. Apigenin was found major component (natural abundance: 1.103%) and β-sitosterol the least (0.0263%). The NPs displayed antioxidant activity with luteolin exhibiting maximum effect at 1μg/mL concentration (75.9% for DPPH and 43.7% for ABTS) and others at 10 and 25μg/mL, suggesting thereby their apparent potential use for the prevention of free radical induced diseases or as an additive element to food and pharmaceutical industry.