Quantification of Saponins in Different Plant Parts of Lysimachia L. Species by Validated HPTLC-Densitometric Method

Quantitative high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of triterpene saponins in different parts of eight Lysimachia L. species is described. For separation, silica gel F-254 plates were used with chloroform-methanol-water (8:7:1, v/v) as mobile phase 1 and with n-butanol-acetic acid-water (6:1:3, v/v) as mobile phase 2. The method was validated for selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and indirect precision. Saponins were most abundant in the underground parts of all analyzed species, where their content ranged from 0.12% in Lysimachia clethroides to 1.18% in Lysimachia ephemerum. The saponin levels in aerial parts of the plant were generally lower, the only exception being L. ephemerum leaf (1.57%) and Lysimachia thyrsiflora stem (2.26%). The method is sensitive with good precision and accuracy and may be suitable for comparison of the differences in saponin content among samples from various related species and genera.