Quantification of Amaroswerin and Amarogentin in Different Parts of Swertia chirayita by Chromatographic Analysis

Aims: The present study aims to quantify major secoiridoids (amaroswerin and amrogentin) in different parts of Swertia chirayita using HPLC to distinguish its parts having a high content of amaroswerin and amarogentin, so that these parts must be included in plant material when the plant is used for estimation or extraction of these phytoconstituents.

Study Design: Statistical comparison was performed using OP-STAT software with CRD and was considered statistically significant.

Place and Duration of Study: The plant material including all studied parts was procured form field plants were grown at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Farm, Shilly (latitude-N 30˚54′30" and longitude E 77˚07′30", elevation 1550 m) under Department of Forest Products, UHF, Solan (H.P.) India. The study was undertaken in the Departmental laboratory and in the period between September 2016 and December 2016.

Methodology: Waters binary HPLC unit with Waters HPLC pump 515, dual λ absorbance detector 2487 and Empower II software was used for quantification of phytoconstituents under study. Samples of different plant parts were extracted by using soxhlet method with methanol as solvent.

Results: In different parts of Swertia chirayita, amaroswerin content (%) was reported highest in flowers (0.741%), followed by leaves (0.386%), roots (0.188%) and lowest in stem part (0.226%) and amarogentin content (%) was reported as highest in flowers (0.617%), followed by leaves (0.447%), stem (0.426%) and lowest in roots (0.369%) of field grown plants.

Conclusion: It is conluded that amaroswerin and amarogentin were present in all studied parts of Swertia chirayita. Amaroswerin and amarogentin content was ranged from 0.160% to 0.741% and 0.369% to 0.617% respectively in different plant parts under study.