Quantitative analysis of safranal in saffron extract and nanoparticle formulation by a validated high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method.
BACKGROUND
Safranal is an effective anticonvulsant shown to act as an agonist at GABA(A) receptors. Nose to brain delivery via nanoparticle formulation might improve its brain delivery. A selective and sensitive analytical method is required for evaluation of safranal-based novel drug delivery systems.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the quantitative analysis of safranal as bulk, in saffron extract and in developed safranal-loaded nanoparticle formulation.


METHODS
Chromatographic separation was achieved on silica gel pre-coated TLC aluminium plates 60F-254, using n-hexane:ethyl acetate (9 : 1, v/v) as the mobile phase. Quantitative analysis was carried out by densitometry at a wavelength of 310 nm. The method was validated and applied to detect related impurities, to analyse safranal in saffron extract and to evaluate safranal-loaded nanoparticles.


RESULTS
Compact spots of safranal were observed at R(f) value 0.51 +/- 0.02. The method was linear (r = 0.9991) between 0.5 and 5.0 ng/spot. The intra- and inter-day precisions were 1.08-2.17 and 1. 86-3.47%, respectively. The limit of detection was 50 ng/spot and the limit of quantification was 150 ng/spot. The method proved to be accurate (recovery 97.4-102.0%) and was selective for safranal. Evaluation of safranal-loaded nanoparticle formulation demonstrated drug loading of 23.0%, encapsulation efficiency of 42.0% and sustained drug release following biphasic pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
The present method is useful for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of safranal and safranal-loaded nanoparticle formulation. It provides significant advantages in terms of greater specificity and rapid analysis.
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, New Delhi-110062, India. shadab.ahmad1@gmail.com
Shadab Ahmad
SA
Pathan
Sanjar
S
Alam
Gaurav K
GK
Jain
Syed M A
SM
Zaidi
Sohail
S
Akhter
Divya
D
Vohora
Roop K
RK
Khar
Farhan J
FJ
Ahmad
D002138:Calibration; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
D053138:Cyclohexenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; C087963:safranal