Estimation of apigenin from Abrus precatorius Linn. leaves extract by validated HPTLC densitometric method coupled with mass spectrometry

• Published in: Natural product research Vol. 39; no. 7; pp. 1841 - 1855
• Main Authors: Ansari, Hafsa I., Dave, Ridham A., Trivedi, Pooja G., Naji, Almutazbellah K., Thummar, Kashyap N., Sindhav, Gaurang M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.04.2025; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Abrus precatorius; Abrus precatorius Linn; Acetic acid; apigenin; Apigenin - analysis; Apigenin - chemistry; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Chromatography, Thin Layer - methods; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; densitometry; Densitometry - methods; densitometry validation; detection limit; drugs; Ethyl acetate; Formic acid; licorice; Liquorice; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Pharmacology; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Quality control; spectral analysis; tandem mass spectrometry; Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods; therapeutics; Thin layer chromatography; Toluene; apigenin; densitometry validation; Abrus precatorius Linn
• ISSN: 1478-6419; 1478-6427; 1478-6427
• DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2280165

Abrus precatorius Linn. is recognised as Indian liquorice, valued for its medicinal properties, containing apigenin, a promising therapeutic scaffold, however, its quantification is lacking. Hence, this study established and validated the high-performance thin layer chromatography method for quantitation of apigenin from methanolic extract of A. precatorius leaves (APM). The optimised mobile phase was toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (6:3:1, v/v/v) for separation of apigenin. Apigenin was also confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. The developed method was sensitive with correlation coefficient (r 2 = 0.998) with limit of detection and quantification of 12.66 and 38.38 ng/band respectively. APM extract contained 0.559% w/w apigenin. Spectroscopic analysis confirmed apigenin with m/z value of 271.3. This method has been reported for the first time and proven accurate, precise and specific. As apigenin is a promising therapeutic agent, the established method can be used for quality control and be a template for drug formulation.