HPTLC method for the estimation of alkaloids of Cinchona officinalis stem bark and its marketed formulations

We report a sensitive method for the estimation of quinine (Qn), cinchonine (Cn), and cinchonidine (Cnd) and a new method based on fluorescence enhanc ement and detection and quantification of quinidine (Qnd) from Cinchona ste m bark and its formulations, using HPTLC. Standard solutions of Qn, Qnd, Cn , and Cnd were applied on precoated HPTLC plates and developed with chlorof orm/diethylamine (9.6:1.4 v/v). The plates were scanned and quantified at 2 26 nm for Qn, Cn, Cnd and for Qnd at 366 nm in fluorescence and reflectance mode (not less than K400 filter). The method was validated for precision, accuracy and repeatability. Further, the stem bark of Cinchona officinalis and some herbal and homeopathic formulations were evaluated for their indiv idual alkaloid content applying the developed method.