Cost effective quantification of camptothecin and a comparative study of its content in Nothapodytes foetida and Ophiorrhiza mungos sourced from selected geographical locations

摘要

High-performance liquid chromatography is the prevalent method used to estimate Camptothecin quantitatively. In the present study thin layer chromatography and UV spectrophotometric method was established as a sensitive, economical and accurate method of detection and estimation of Camptothecin. The method was developed on TLC aluminum plates (60F254 from E-Merck Ltd.) precoated with silica gel using solvent system ethyl acetate: methanol (7.5:2.5, v/v) which gives a dark blue spot of Camptothecin at 254 nm (Rf value 0.46 cm). Spectrometric analysis of Camptothecin was carried out at the absorbance of 254 nm. Leaves and stems of Nothapodytes foetida and Ophiorrhiza mungos were extracted, subjected to TLC and UV spectrophotometric analysis and maximum absorption of CPT in ethyl acetate was observed at 254 nm. The quantification by this method was comparable to data obtained by HPLC. The optimized method was simple, repeatable, precise and cost effective, useful when there is large number of crude samples. In the present study this method was used to screen high yielding lines of CPT producing plants.