Determination of Quercetin a Biomarker in Hepatoprotective Polyherbal Formulation through High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography

Nature still obliges as the man’s primary source for the cure of his ailments. Research in preventive medicine showed the importance of functional nutrition in reducing the risk factor of certain chronic diseases. Innate defense system of the human body may be insufficient for the damage caused by continued oxidative stress. Quercetin and other flavonoids, have the structure to act as powerful antioxidants, and have often proven so in vitro. Quercetin, being a major constituent of the flavonoid intake, could be a key in fighting several chronic degenerative diseases. Growing scientific evidence has shown adverse side effects, like liver damage and mutagenesis, of synthetic antioxidant. Therefore, recently there has been an upsurge of interest in natural products as antioxidants, as they inhibit the free radical reactions and protect human body from various diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. Recent studies showed that a number of plant products including polyphenolic substances (e.g., gallocatechins, delphinidin, cyanidin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, pelargonidin and sitosterol) and various plants or herbal extracts exert potent antioxidant actions, which are very well known for their healing powers.

Stem bark powder is used to apply on injury caused due to axe. Stem juice is applied on goitre of human being. Paste of stem bark is applied in case of body swellings. Bark is acrid, bitter, appetizer, aphrodisiac and laxative, anthelmintic, useful in fractures of the bones, diseases of theanus, dysentery, piles, hydrocele, cures ulcers and tumors. Bark is useful in biliousness, dysmenorrhea, liver disorder, gonorrhea and it also purifies the blood. The ash of young branch is prescribed in combination with other drugs in case of scorpion sting.

Bauhinia variegata L. was widely used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of complains. It contained many secondary metabolites which are suitable to be used as medicines. The phytochemical screening revealed that Bauhinia variegata contained terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, steroids and cardiac glycosides. The pharmacological studies showed that Bauhinia variegate exertedanticancer, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, immunomodulating, molluscicidal and wound healing effects [6]. The phytochemical screening of n-hexane chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanolic fractions of B. variegata flowers revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, steroids and cardiac glycosides. Its Constituents isolated from the leaves were included lupeol alkaloids, oil, fat glycoside, phenolics, lignin, saponins, terpinoids, β-sitosterol, tannins, kaempferol-3-glucoside , rutin, quercetin, quercitrin, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, amides, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, protein, vitamin C, fibers, calcium and phosphorus.