Quantitative determination of vitexin in Passiflora foetida Linn. leaves using HPTLC

Objective: To establish a simple, rapid, precise and accurate high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method with densitometric detection for the determination of vitexin in Passiflora foetida Linn. (P. foetida). 

Methods: Ethanolic extract of the plant leaf powder was used for the experimental work. Separation was performed on silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ HPTLC plates with ethyl acetate: methanol: distilled water: formic acid in the proportion of 50:2:3:6 (v/v), as the mobile phase. The determination was carried out using the densitometric absorbance mode at 340 nm. 

Results: Vitexin response was linear over the range of 2.5-17.5 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. Intraday and interday precision studies showed the relative SD was < 3%. Accuracy of the method was determined and the average recovery was 100.3%. The limit of quantitation and limit of detection were 0.879 and 0.290 μg/mL, respectively. The contents of vitexin in P. foetida leaf extracts were within the range of 0.030%-0.310%. 

Conclusions: The method was evaluated for sensitivity, accuracy, precision and reproducibility. Each analysis by HPTLC is less expensive than current methods. This method is suitable for routine quality control of raw material of the leaves of P. foetida extract and its products.