Isolation, Characterization and Determination of Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid in Nutrition Supplement by Using Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is a lignan found in large amounts in the
ethnobotanically important plant, Larrea tridentata (Moc. & Sess.) Cov.
(Zygophyllaceae). So far NDGA was not isolated and estimated in larrea tridentata (moc.
& sess.) cov. In this study isolation of Nordihydroguaiaretic acid was achieved by
preparative TLC and the compound thus isolated was characterised by Ultraviolet and
Mass spectral analysis. Mass spectral data shows molecular ion peak of m/z=302.2. An
isocratic RP-HPLC method was developed for the estimation of Nordihydroguaiaretic
acid in marketed formulation. Retention time of Nordihydroguaiaretic acid was found as
4.173 min. This method has obeyed linearity over the concentration range of 10-
50µg/ml and the regression coefficient obtained from linearity plot for
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid was found as 0.999. RP-HPLC method was validated in
pursuance of International conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. This method
is simple and economic one and it could be used for the estimatimation and routine
analysis of the NDGA in any crude drug extract and in any formulation.