A HPTLC method for the identification of ferulic acid from Lycopodium clavatum

Abstract Objective To develop a simple precise and novel method for the identification and quantification of bioactive molecules ferulic acid in Lycopodium clavatum. Methods Bioactive molecules ferulic acid in Lycopodium clavatum was indentified and estimated by the assay combined separation and quantitative estimation of the analyte on silica gel 60F 254 HPTLC plates with visualization under UV and scanning at 320 nm. Results HPTLC studies showed the separation and determination of ferulic acid (0.443%) in Lycopodium clavatum . The result of recovery ranged in 95%-97% for ferulic acid. Conclusions This method is simple, sensitive, economic, novel and first time reported from this species. Therefore, ferulic acid might be a useful chemotaxonomic marker for the genus Lycopodium and other lycopods.