Abstract 

This study presents the report of TLC densitometric method, which has been developedand validated forSimultaneous estimation and quantification of Gallic acid and Stigmasterol from chloroforn extract of Maydis stigma (Corn Silk). The separation was performed on TLC aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254. Good separation was achieved in mobile phase usingToluene: ethylAcetate: Methanol (6:3:1.5). Determination and quantitation were performed by densitometric scanning at 244nm in reflection/ absorbance mode. This method gave compact spots at Rf0.2±0.05 and 0.7±0.05 for Gallic acid andStigmasterol respectively. The validation of method is done as per ICH guidelines for precision, repeatability and accuracy. Linearity range for Gallic acid and Stigmasterol was 200–1000 ng/spot with correlation coefficient R2 ±SD = 0.9949 ±5.05% and R2 ±SD = 0.9942 ±5.05% in the concentration range 100-1000ng/spot respectively. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.6066ng and 1.8362ng for Gallic acid and 0.9674ng and 2.9235ng for Stigmasterol. The contents in crude extract obtained from corn silk were found to be 0.2332± 0.005% w/w and 0.18944± 0.002% w/w respectively. HPTLC method was found to be simple, precise, accurate and convenient method for rapid screening of active constituents present in chloroform extracts of Maydis stigma (MS) and can be used for analysis and routine quality control of herbal material and formulations containing Maydis stigma. In conclusion, the statistical analysis of data showed that the method is reproducible and selective for estimation of both the components. The proposed HPTLC method can be applied for identification and quantitative determination of Gallic acid and Stigmasterol in the extract and in the marketed formulation.