Monitoring seasonal variation of epicatechin and gallic acid in the bark of Saraca asoca using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method
Authors
Pushkar Ketkar
Department of Dravyaguna, Karnatak Lingayat Education University, Shri. B. M. Kankanwadi Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Shraddha Nayak
Department of Dravyaguna, Karnatak Lingayat Education University, Shri. B. M. Kankanwadi Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Sandeep Pai
Plant Biotechnology and Tissue Culture Division, Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Rajesh Joshi
Department of Phytochemistry, Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde (Fabaceae) is a high valued but vulnerable medicinal plant of Western Ghats region. This plant is mainly known for its use in various gynecological disorders.
Objective:
The objective of the present study was to investigate seasonal variation of the polyphenolic compounds viz., epicatechin and gallic acid in the bark of S. asoca by using Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (RP-HPLC-DAD) method.
Materials and Methods:
The bark was collected in six different Ritu (season) viz. Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), hemant (early winter), Shishir (winter), Vasanta (spring), and Grishma (summer) mentioned in Ayurveda.
Results:
The RP-HPLC-DAD analysis indicated that levels of epicatechin and gallic acid in the bark of S. asoca vary seasonally. The highest concentration of epicatechin was observed in Shishir Ritu (3315.19 ± 165.76 mg/100g) and gallic acid during Hemant Ritu (211.90 ± 10.60 mg/100 g).
Conclusions:
In present study, the ability to synthesize and accumulate both the compounds in bark of S. asoca varied greatly throughout the seasons. It was also observed that the compound epicatechin was present abundantly as compared to gallic acid throughout the seasons.
Keywords: Ayurveda, epicatechin, gallic acid, Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde, seasonal variation
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