A validated HPLC method for quantification and optimization of furocoumarins in different extracts of fruits of Heracleum candicans

Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC (Apiaceae) finds use as an aphrodisiac, nerve tonic and also in the treatment of skin diseases in the Indian system of medicines and is reported to be rich in furocoumarins which are extensively used in pharmaceutical industry for their photosensitizing activity on human skin. Thus a HPLC-PDA method has been developed for the selection of suitable solvent for extraction and quantitative estimation of these furocoumarins viz. heraclenol, heraclenin, bergapten and psoralen in fruits of H. candicans. The results indicate that heraclenol is found to be maximum in 30% aqueous methanolic extract (0.108%) while the maximum concentration of heraclenin (anti-inflammatory principle) and bergapten (melanogenesis stimulation activity) was found in the pure methanolic extract (0.386 and 0.281%, respectively). However psoralen (anti-psoriatric principle) was found in very low concentration in all the extracts. Further validation of the method was done in view to demonstrate its selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness. The method thus developed can be applied in quality evaluation of H. candicans.