HPTLC method for Simultaneous estimation of two biomarkers present in Ashwagandha and its various commercial formulations

Abstract

In the last two decades HPTLC has emerged as an important tool for the qualitative, semiquantitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of herbal drugs and formulations. This includes
developing TLC profiles and estimation of chemical markers and biomarkers. Recently HPTLC
methods are used for herbal analysis and the main advantage of HPTLC method for analysis is
because the polyherbal preparations can be analysed in one single run. Withanolides are specific for
the Solanaceae family, in particular for the genus Withania, and are used as marker. Withaferin A is
one of the most important. Withanolides to which the curative properties of the plants are attributed
antiangiogenesis through NF-?B inhibition, cytoskeletal architecture alteration by covalently
binding annexin II and apoptosis induction through the protein kinase C pathway in leishmanial cells.
Besides, withanolides Ashwgandha also contain beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside which a well known bio
marker. Beta sitosterol D-glucoside has many pharmacological activities like hypoglycemic,
anticancer, antiedemic, antiinflammatory etc. Thus, the objective of the present work was to develop
and validate a High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography method for simultaneous
estimation of two biomarkers present in Ashwagandha viz., withaferin A and beta-sitosterol-Dglucoside