Cost effective quantification of picrosides in Picrorhiza kurroa by employing response surface methodology using HPLC-UV

Abstract

This paper reports the optimum conditions for the extraction of picrosides from Picrorhiza kurroa using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the effects of four independent variables, namely methanol concentration (%), solid-to-liquid ratio (g/mL), incubation time (min) and temperature (°C) on the extraction yield of picroside I (P-I) and picroside II (P-II) quantified by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The cumulative effects of independent variables were studied and the optimal extraction conditions were obtained as methanol concentration (0 %), solid-to-liquid ratio (1:120 g/mL), incubation time (30 min) and temperature (30 °C). The picrosides were extracted under optimumconditions to check the validity of the model. The experimental values agreed with the predicted ones, indicating suitability of the model employed and the success of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions. The significant achievement of the present work lies in the fact that distilled water rather than methanol, a hazardous and expensive solvent, is an effective and highly selective solvent for the extraction of picrosides from P. kurroa which makes this process economical and environment friendly.