Simultaneous Quantification of Glycyrrhetinic acid and Apigenin using HPTLC from Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn

Abstract

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. commonly known as Mulethi was employed medicinally as an expectorant
and carminative in ancient times. There are no reports of simultaneous quantification of Glycyrrhetinic
acid and Apigenin from this plant. Hence a TLC densitometric method was developed and validated
for quantification of these marker compounds. Glycyrrhetinic acid and Apigenin were quantified from
2N methanolic-HCl extract and methanolic extract respectively using the Solvent System of Ethyl
Acetate: Ethanol: Water: Ammonia (6.3: 2: 0.4: 0.1 v/v). The method was validated using ICH
guidelines in terms of precision, repeatability and accuracy. Linearity range for Glycyrrhetinic acid
and Apigenin was found to be 160 to 960 ng spot-1 and 32 to 96 ng spot-1 respectively; and the content
of Glycyrrhetinic acid and Apigenin was found to be 0.65 ± 0.059% and 0.0074 ± 0.0004%
respectively. This simple, precise and accurate method gave good resolution from other constituents of
extract.