TLC-Densitometric analysis of β-sitosterol in pumpkin seed oil

A densitometric thin-layer chromatographic method has been established for quantitative determination of beta-sitosterol in pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbilapepo L.). Chromatography was performed on silica gel 60 F-254 TLC plates, with toluene-ethyl acetate-glacial acetic acid 15:4:1 (v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric quantitation was performed at 525 nm. The method was validated by determination of linearity (15-750 mu g mL(-1)), precision (RSD = 2.36%), and limits of detection (LOD = 0.65 mu g per band) and quantification (LOQ = 1.99 mu g per band). Average recovery from the pharmaceutical preparation was 96.15%. The method enables simple, rapid, and precise quantitative determination of beta-sitosterol in pharmaceutical preparations and can be used for routine quality control.