Comparison Between HPLC and HPTLC Densitometry for the Determination of 11-keto β-boswellic acid and 3- acetyl-11-keto β-boswellic acid from Boswellia serrata Extract

Objective: Boswellic acids (BAs) are active constituents of plant Boswellia serrata. In the present study boswellic acids were extracted from Boswellia serrata and dry methanolic extracts were quantified by HPLC and HPTLC. Method: A gradient HPLC method was used for the quantification of the boswellic acids; 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) and 3- acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA). A direct HPTLC assay was developed for the determination of KBA and AKBA at 254 nm. The UV detection of analytical assays were used to examine the purity of KBA and AKBA peaks and compared with the standards. Results: The quantitative results of both analytical methods did not show any major differences between content of KBA and AKBA, although a trend to slightly lower values were found for content of KBA and AKBA in HPLC. The amount of KBA and AKBA in the Boswellia serrata extract was found to be about 3.3 % and 4.6 % by HPTLC and 3.03% and 3.87% by HPLC respectively. Conslusion: Both methods are simple and effective for quantification of KBA and AKBA in Boswellia serrata extracts and their pharmaceutical formulations.