title: Densitometric thin-layer chromatographic determination of aescin in a herbal medicinal product containing Aesculus and Vitis dry extracts.
abstract: A thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method is developed to analyze the total saponin content, also referred to as the aescin content, in a herbal medicinal product (HMP) containing two dry extracts in capsules. The capsules contain 250 mg of Aesculus hippocastanum dry extract, 120 mg of Vitis vinifera dry extract and 50mg of excipients. After a purification step using C(18) solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, the samples are analyzed on a silica-gel HPTLC plate with the upper layer of a mixture of acetic acid/water/butanol (10/40/50 v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Spots are visualized by spraying with anisaldehyde reagent and heating the plate for 5-10 min (100-105 degrees C) and measured at a wavelength of 535 nm. This method, applicable for the quality control and stability investigation of both the Aesculus dry extract and HMP capsules thereof containing Vitis dry extract in combination with the Aesculus dry extract, is validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The proposed assay method is specific for aescin in the presence of Vitis dry extract and formulation excipients. Analysis of stressed samples in forced degradation tests proves the method to be applicable for stability evaluation. The standard aescin curve is linear (r > 0.99) over a concentration range of 0.16-0.80 microg/spot. Recovery from the HMP capsules is statistically equal to 100%. The precision of the method with respect to time and concentration is acceptable, with relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 1.28 and 1.49%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium. sandra.apers@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apers
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naessens
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlietinck
mesh_terms: D031319:Aesculus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D004928:Escin / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004928:Escin