Sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for the estimation of diospyrin, a tumour inhibitory agent from the stem bark of Diospyros montana Roxb.

Diospyrin, a tumour inhibitory agent from the stem bark of Diospyros montan a was isolated and characterised. A sensitive high-performance thin-layer c hromatographic (HPTLC) method was developed for the estimation of diospyrin . The method was validated for precision (intra- and inter-day), repeatabil ity and accuracy. The method was found to be precise, with the RSDs for int ra-day in the range of 0.72-1.85% and RSDs for inter-day in the range of 1. 06-2.95%, for different concentrations. Instrumental precision and repeatab ility of the method were found to be 0.086 and 0.937 (% CV), respectively. Accuracy of the method was checked by performing the recovery study at two levels and average percentage recovery was found to be 97.87%. The develope d HPTLC method was adopted for the estimation of diospyrin content of the s tem bark of D. montana from different regions, which varied from 0.35 to 0. 47% (w/w) in the samples. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.