High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of bergenin and (+)-afzelechin from different parts of Paashaanbhed (Bergenia ligulata Yeo)

A reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatographic method with an optimis ed extraction procedure for the quantitative estimation of bergenin and (+) -afzelechin in different parts of the popular Indian herb Paashaanbhed (Ber genia ligulata Yeo) has been developed. The method is sensitive, precise an d gives more than 99% recovery of the active constituents. The rhizomes of the plant were found to contain higher concentrations of bergenin (0.907% w /w) and (+)-afzelechin (0.168% w/w) than other parts of the plant. The pres ence of these constituents was also estimated in polyherbal formulations co ntaining this plant. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.