Spectrophotometry – A Tool to Assess Corticosteroids and Tectona Grandis

Background: Glucocorticoids- Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone are available in various formulations like oral and parenteral, inhalation and topical. Though they are many medicinal benefits of steroids nowadays, this study aims to compare the natural product Tectona grandis which possess steroid like activity with the Standard steroids like Hydrocortisone Aim of our study is to determine the potency of Tectona grandis decoction with Standard steroids (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone) by analytical method and to compare steroid in Tectona grandis extract with Standard Steroid by FTIR and HPTLC. Methodology: 20 mg of Tectona grandis‘s bark were dried, weighted and made in to fine powder using blender, thus Tectona grandis powder was prepared. The processed Tectona grandis were fractionated /extracted using chloroform. The extract were subjected to phytochemical analysis focusing on phytosterols by two methods-Salkowski test and Lieberman burchardt test. Estimation of Steroid in Tectona grandise as done by Spectrophotometry and HPTLC. Results: The appearance of reddish brown precipitate by Salkowski test and reddish brown ring formation by Lieberman-burchardt test indicate the presence of phytosterol. TG decoction is equal to 1.25 mg of hydrocortisone and 1.75mg of prednisolone. Tectona grandis extract showed that the spectrum similar to spectrum of Prednisolone whose characteristic band of the OH group were found at 3200-3500 cm-1 and two carbonyl stretching peak appear as a very strong band at 1708cm-1 and 1654 cm-1, denotes Prednisolone like structure in FTIR. Conclusion: Tectona grandis‘s stem bark is a commercially available plant product that possess steroidal activity and the structure resembles prednisolone. It can be used to reduce inflammation whenever corticosteroid are indicated as alternative cost effective treatment.