HPTLC- STUDIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SARACA ASOKA

To establish phytoestrogenic profile for the medicinally important plant Saraca asoka using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out to identify the presence of chemical constituents of ethanolic extract of Saraca asoka bark. Ethyl acetate-formic acid-glacial acetic acid-water (100:11:11:26) was employed as mobile phase for flavonoids. TLC Plates dried at 100oC in hot air oven for 3 min. The plate was photo-documented at UV 366 nm. Carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, volatile oils, saponins, flavonoids and phenolic compounds are present in the ethanolic extract of Saraca asoka bark. The ethanolic extracts of Saraca asoka bark displayed the presence of mainly 5 types of flavanoids and related compounds with major 5 different Rf values ranging from 0.12 to 0.95. The ethanolic extract of Saraca asoka bark illustrated the presence of 5 different types of flavonoids with 5 different Rf values of the peaks at 0.12, 0.45, 0.60, 0.85 and 0.95. Key Words: Saraca asoka, HPTLC, Chromatography, Ethanolic extract, Rf value and Phytoestrogens