HPLC Fingerprint Analysis Coupled with Multivariate Analysis for Quality Assessment of Picrorhiza kurroa Rhizomes

Background: Kutki, the dried rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth belonging to the family of Scrophulariaceae, has been utilized globally for liver ailments. Objective: Comprehensive use of kutki needs to evaluate its role as a quality control tool for discrimination of kutki samples, and therefore an effective HPLC fingerprinting method was established. Methods: Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (RPHPLC- PDA) detection method coupled with multivariate analysis was developed, which was modest, consistent and, accurate for classification of 11 kutki samples including authentic Picrorhiza kurroa rhizomes from the market of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India. Results: The method was validated for various parameters like precision, reproducibility, and stability. The lowest value of the % relative standard deviations (RSD) was 1.31%. Chromatographic fingerprint profiles of 11 kutki samples, including authenticated samples, were obtained by this method, which showed a total of 28 peaks, and 9 peaks were important among them. Chemometric techniques like PCA and HCA were applied to identify the kutki samples.The Samples of kutki could be exquisitely differentiated into two clusters. Conclusion: HPLC-PDA method coupled with multivariate analysis divulged that chromatographic fingerprint analysis was reliable and effective for quality assessment and discrimination of kutki samples.