A validated and densitometric HPTLC method for the simultaneous quantification of reserpine and ajmalicine in Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla

High performance thin layer chromatographic method (HPTLC) has been developed for the quantification of reserpine and ajmalicine in root part of two different population of Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz and Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., Apocynaceae, collected from Punjab and Uttarakhand. HPTLC of methanolic extract of root containing indole alkaloids, i.e., reserpine and ajmalicine, was performed on TLC Silicagel 60 F-254 (10 CM x 10 cm) plates with toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid (7:2:1), as mobile phase. Quantification of the reserpine and ajmalicine was performed in the absorption-reflection mode at 268 nm. The recovery of reserpine and ajmalicine were 99.3 and 98.7% respectively. The calibration curves were linear for both the reserpine and ajmalicine, in the range of 200-1200 ng. HPTLC densitometry has been performed for the estimation of reserpine and ajmalicine in root part of R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla for the first time. The method is simple, rapid and cost effective and can be used for routine analysis of ajmalicine and reserpine in different Rauvolfia species as well as for quality control of herbal drugs containing Rauvolfia species. (C) 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.