ANALYSIS OF ELLAGIC ACID IN FRESH AND PROCESSED FRUIT PRODUCTS BY HIGH PERFORMANCE THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

Ellagic acid, a dimeric compound of Gallic acid is found in various fruits and vegetables. They are available in the form of hydrolysable tannins called as ellagitannins. The aim of the present study is to develop and validate a simple, fast, specific and precise HPTLC method for the estimation of ellagic acid in fresh and processed fruit products. Aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60 GF254 was used as stationary phase and a mixture of Toluene: Ethyl Acetate: Formic acid in the ratio of 5: 5: 2.5 (v/v) as mobile phase. Quantitation was carried out by scanning the developed spots using a densitometer in absorbance mode at 254 nm. The Rf value of Ellagic acid was 0.35. The result of analysis has been validated statistically and by recovery studies. Linearity was observed in the concentration range of 400 – 1200 ng/spot. HPTLC method for the estimation of ellagic acid was developed and validated. Thus it may be used for the estimation of ellagic acid in fresh and processed fruits.