Phytochemical evaluation and HPTLC fingerprint profile of Cassia fistula

The present study was aimed to develop the high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) finger print profile of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves of Cassia fistula. Chromatographic technique was used for separation of components from different extracts of leaves. This study was planned to develop a HPTLC fingerprint profile of extracts in different solvents such as petroleum ether, toluene, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone and formic acid. A HPTLC method for the separation of the active constituents in extracts has been developed and TLC of these extracts on silica gel pre-coated aluminum plates of Merck by automatic TLC applicator and using solvent system toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid::5:4:1 was performed. HPTLC profiling of the extract confirm about the presence of various phytochemicals. HPTLC finger print scanned at 400 nm for methanol and ethyl acetate leaf extracts revealed 15 and 16 peaks with Rf values in the range of 0.06 to 0.99 and 0.02 to 0.98 respectively. The bands revealed presence of greenish, purple, pink and light yellowish orange bands showing the presence of steroids, terpenoids and saponins after spraying with anisaldehyde sulphuric acid reagent. The HPTLC method for routine quality control of present species can be carried out using this method for extracts of plant and serve in qualitative, quantitative and was appropriate for standardization of the