DETERMINATION OF LINOLEIC ACID IN PITAYA EXTRACTS VIA HIGH-PERFORMANCE THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY: A STANDARDIZATION APPROACH

SWETA PATEL; FALGUNI TANDEL; CHAKRABORTHY GS

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i9.55249

Authors

SWETA PATEL Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Parul Institute of Pharmacy and Research, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
FALGUNI TANDEL Indus Institute of Pharmacy and Research, Indus University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
CHAKRABORTHY GS Parul Institute of Pharmacy and Research, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2025v18i9.55249

Keywords:

Linoleic acid, Dragon fruit extracts, Finger print, High-performance thin-layer chromatography

Abstract

Objectives: To develop and validate a robust high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the determination and standardization of linoleic acid in Hylocereus polyrhizus (dragon fruit [DF]) extracts. For quality control and standardization, linoleic acid—a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid vital for human health-was selected as a marker compound in herbal formulations.

Methods: Chromatographic separation was carried out on silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ HPTLC plates. The optimized mobile phase used was n-hexane: ethyl acetate: benzene:methanol in the ratio of 4:3:2.5:0.5 (v/v/v/v). Detection was performed at 230 nm. Method validation parameters included linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ).

Results: The method demonstrated excellent linearity in the range of 2000–14000 ng/band with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9954. Precision showed a % relative standard deviation of <1.2%. Accuracy ranged between 99.03% and 99.64%. LOD and LOQ were found to be 210.83 ng/band and 638.88 ng/band, respectively. Quantitative analysis of two commercial DF extract samples revealed linoleic acid concentrations of 30.28 μg/mg and 25.14 μg/mg.

Conclusion: The developed and validated HPTLC method is reliable, precise, and accurate for the quantification of linoleic acid in H. polyrhizus extracts. This method can be effectively applied for the standardization and quality control of herbal formulations containing DF extracts

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