A validated quantitative thin-layer chromatographic method for estimation of diosgenin in various plant samples, extract, and market formulation.

A sensitive and reproducible thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed for quantitation of diosgenin, a spiroketal sapogenin. The spots were visualized by spraying with modified anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent. The concentration of anisaldehyde was reduced to 0.1% instead of 1%, and the concentration of sulfuric acid was kept at a minimum of 2%. This successfully reduced charring and background interference. The method was validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method was used for determination of diosgenin from dried samples of fenugreek seeds, leaves, stem, seed extracts, and a polyherbal antidiabetic formulation containing fenugreek powder as one of the ingredients. Increased detection sensitivity was observed with linearity from 98 to 588 ng/spot and a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.988. The relative standard deviation value for linearity of the method was found to be 0.18%. The method was successfully applied to various plant samples of fenugreek (Methi) with a recovery of 98.11 +/- 1.4%. Dried plant samples and a market formulation were analyzed and found to contain diosgenin in the range of 0.529-0.658% (w/w) in fenugreek seed powders, 0.087% (w/w) in fenugreek leaf powder, 0.015 and 1.27% (w/w) in fenugreek stem powder and extract, respectively, and 0.586% (w/w) in a formulation containing fenugreek seed powder. No matrix interference was observed.