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Quality evaluation and quantification of cucurbitacin E in different cultivars of Cucumis sativus L. fruit by a validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography method

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Abstract

Cucumis sativus L. of the Cucurbitaceae family, commonly known as cucumber, is commercially cultivated worldwide. The major phytoconstituents present in the Cucurbitaceae family are different curcurbitacins, principally cucurbitacin E. The content of cucurbitacin E differs within the species or cultivars due to factors like genetic variation and geographical location. The present study reports a simple and rapid quantitative analysis of cucurbitacin E in 5 different C. sativus cultivars by a validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. The mobile phase contained petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and formic acid in the ratio of 40:60:0.5 (V/V). Cucurbitacin E was analyzed densitometrically and the absorbance wavelength was 254 nm. The method showed RF spot = 0.79 ± 0.06, corresponding to cucurbitacin E in various samples. The calibration curve of standard cucurbitacin E showed good linear relationship in the concentration range of 2‒10 µg/spot with a correlation coefficient (r) > 0.99. The HPTLC method was validated in terms of sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and specificity as per the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The present study revealed that the content of cucurbitacin E differs among the C. sativus cultivars. This method may be beneficial for addressing the quality-related aspects of C. sativus for food and pharmaceutical preparation.

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Abbreviations

HPTLC:

High-performance thin-layer chromatography

ICH:

International Conference on Harmonization

MAE:

Microwave-assisted extraction

LOD:

Limit of detection

LOQ:

Limit of quantification

%RSD:

Percent relative standard deviation

C. sativus L.:

Cucumis sativus L.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations), Government of India for proving PhD in Pharmacy research fellowship to the first author. Authors are also thankful to Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India, New Delhi, for financial support through Vide Letter Ref. No. EMR/2016/007037.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India

    Pradip Debnath, Bhaskar Das, Sayan Biswas, Amit Kar & Pulok K. Mukherjee

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Comilla University, Cumilla, 3506, Bangladesh

    Pradip Debnath

  3. Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (An autonomous institute under Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur, 795001, India

    Amit Kar & Pulok K. Mukherjee

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  1. Pradip Debnath
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  5. Pulok K. Mukherjee
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Correspondence to Pulok K. Mukherjee.

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Debnath, P., Das, B., Biswas, S. et al. Quality evaluation and quantification of cucurbitacin E in different cultivars of Cucumis sativus L. fruit by a validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography method. JPC-J Planar Chromat 34, 139–146 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00764-021-00097-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00764-021-00097-6

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