HPTLC PROFILING AND QUANTIFICATION OF ANTIOXIDANT MARKER COMPOUNDS IN TRAGIA INVOLUCRATA LINN (STEM)

Tragia involucrata Linn. (Euphorbiaceae), a well-known medicinal plant used in Ayurveda and Siddha systems, is an important ingredient of formulations such as Kabasura Kudineer. The present study aimed to standardize and quantify key antioxidant marker compounds in T. involucrata using a validated HPTLC method. Methanolic extracts of the plant were analyzed using toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid: methanol (3:6:1.6:0.4) as the mobile phase, with densitometric detection at 254 nm. The method showed good resolution and reproducibility, enabling effective phytochemical fingerprinting. Quantitative analysis revealed the presence of gallic acid (0.03%), rosmarinic acid (0.12%), luteolin (0.37%), and kaempferol (0.93%). These bioactive markers are known to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through mechanisms such as ROS scavenging, Nrf2/HO-1 activation, and NF-κB/MAPK pathway inhibition. The findings scientifically validate the traditional use of T. involucrata and support its therapeutic relevance in polyherbal formulations for managing oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions.