HPTLC METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF STIGMASTEROL AND Β-SITOSTEROL IN ABROMA AUGUSTA LINN. ROOTS AND ITS IN VITRO BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY SCREENING

The intention of the present work is to quantify stigmasterol and β-sitosterol and simultaneously estimate them in the roots of Abroma augusta Linn. with the help of standard markers using HPTLC technique and to carry out the evaluation of their anti-arthritic and anti-gout activities. The fingerprinting of the methanolic extract was carried out and the individual markers were quantified by HPTLC. They were simultaneously estimated and the method was validated. The antiarthritic and antigout activities were evaluated. A system comprising of toluene: methanol (9:1% v/v) was selected for the determination of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol by HPTLC and detection was at 210nm after derivatization with anisaldehyde - sulphuric acid reagent. The methanolic extract of the plant showed good anti-arthritic and anti-gout activities. The present study is a forerunner for the development of newer herbal preparations for the treatment of arthritis and gout and also for the routine analysis of herbal constituents.