COMPARATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF QUERCETIN AND RUTIN IN TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS L. FRUITS FROM DIFFERENT SEASONAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL POPULATIONS OF SOUTH INDIA

The objective of the present research work was comparative and quantitative determination of quercetin and rutin in Tribulus terrestirs fruits from different geographical regions and seasons by using HPLC. The Tribulus terrestris fruit samples collected from three different geographical regions of south India in June and December months. In the current HPLC analysis flavonoids in Tribulus terrestris Linn fruits were quantified at 360 nm with help of peak area by comparing to a calibration curve of standard samples of quercetin and ruin. The study concluded that Tribulus terrestris fruit samples collected in June season showed maximum amount of rutin and quercetin content and fruit samples collected in December season shown lesser percentage of flavonoid compounds. This research also conforms fruits collected from various geographical regions showed variation in the concentration of flavonoid compounds of rutin and quercetin. The HPLC results also showed that the methanolic extracts of Tribulus terrestris fruits collected in June and December months showed remarkable variation in elution of diverse types of chemical constituents with differences in the retention time. Key Words: Tribulus terrestris, South India, Seasonal and Geographical variations, Quercetin and Rutin