Isolation, optimized extraction, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array method for quantitative analysis of chiratol in Swertia paniculata

The global natural product-based industry is growing fast with the introduction of new phytochemicals and herbal extract products from different geographical regions. Swertia paniculata is a well-known plant with medicinal properties; however, the quality control for its major phytochemical constituents from the Himalayan geographical region is nevertheless reported. Therefore, the first objective of this investigation was to characterize and optimize the extraction process while the second objective was to validate a quantitative analytical method for chiratol from S. paniculata herbal extract. The chiratol was characterized with spectral analysis. The optimum extraction condition for the highest yield of metabolite was realized in chloroform as a solvent system under ultrasonication. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection method for analytical quantification was validated for specificity, linearity, limits of detection, limits of quantification, precision, repeatability, recovery, and robustness using Eclipse Plus C-18 column (100 mm x 4.6 mm x 3.5 mu m id). The gradient elution of water/acetonitrile as mobile phase was used at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The recovery percentage was very satisfactory with values within specification. The robustness parameters showed no substantial influence of evaluated parameters by the Youden test. The developed method was ascertained to be appropriate for the proposed purpose.

Automated summary

The global natural product-based industry is rapidly growing, and this study aimed to optimize the extraction process of Swertia paniculata and validate a quantitative analytical method for chiratol in S. paniculata herbal extract. Results showed that using chloroform as a solvent system and characterizing chiratol with spectral analysis under ultrasonication led to the highest yield of metabolite. The developed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method was validated for specificity, linearity, and robustness, making it appropriate for the proposed purpose.