ABSTRACT High performance thin layer chromatographic method (HPTLC) has been developed for the quantification of reserpine and ajmalicine in root part of two different population of Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz and Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., Apocynaceae, collected from Punjab and Uttarakhand. HPTLC of methanolic extract of root containing indole alkaloids, i.e., reserpine and ajmalicine, was performed on TLC Silicagel 60 F254 (10 cm × 10 cm) plates with toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid (7:2:1), as mobile phase. Quantification of the reserpine and ajmalicine was performed in the absorption–reflection mode at 268 nm. The recovery of reserpine and ajmalicine were 99.3 and 98.7% respectively. The calibration curves were linear for both the reserpine and ajmalicine, in the range of 200–1200 ng. HPTLC densitometry has been performed for the estimation of reserpine and ajmalicine in root part of R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla for the first time. The method is simple, rapid and cost effective and can be used for routine analysis of ajmalicine and reserpine in different Rauvolfia species as well as for quality control of herbal drugs containing Rauvolfia species.

ABSTRACT Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., Xanthorrhoeaceae, a succulent, produces barbaloin, a bioactive compounds used in various pharmaceutical products. Extracts prepared from the leaves have been widely used as bittering agents, taste modifiers and also as cathartic agent against severe constipation. Barbaloin is reported for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral and anticancer activities and these properties are mostly mediated by its antioxidative capacity. Presently, a study has been conducted on the comparative High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography analysis of barbaloin from the dried leaf skin powder of in vivo and in vitro grown A. vera. Shoot tips of A. vera were cultured in Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with different combination of 6-benzylaminopurine and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. [Best multiplication response was noted in benzylaminopurine (2.0 mg/l) + 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (0.1 mg/l) supplemented Murashige and Skoog media]. The quantitative determination of barbaloin was performed on silica gel 60 F254 HPTLC plates as stationary phase. The linear ascending development was carried out in a twin trough glass chamber saturated with a mobile phase consisting of ethyl acetate: methanol: water (100:16.5:13.5) at room temperature (22 ± 2 ºC). CAMAG Thin Layer Chromatography scanner-3 equipped with CATS software (version: 1.4.4.6337) was used for spectrodensitometric scanning and analysis in the ultraviolet region at λ = 366 nm. The method was validated for linearity, precision and accuracy. Correlation coefficient, limit of detection, limit of quantification as well as recovery values were found to be satisfactory. Out of the five populations studied, the leaf skin of A. vera collected from Jodhpur (Rajasthan, India) and raised in vitro was found to contain higher amount of barbaloin (2.78%) when compared to its naturally growing counterparts (2.46%) and other plant populations.

ABSTRACT: Composite propellant mainly consists of two parts, binder matrix (prepolymer, plasticizer, cross linker, antioxidant and curative etc.) and solid ingredients (oxidizer, metal fuel, burn rate modifier, combustion stabilizer etc.). Its processing involves several stages like ingredient preparation (grinding, 1.1 Hazard Division - 1.1 HD), mixing (1.1 HD), casting (1.1 HD), curing (1.3 HD) and extraction (1.3 HD). Each and every process is very hazardous. Removal of any of the mentioned step will be a great achievement for solid rocket motor processing. Mandrel is used to give proper grain geometry. But for metal mandrel, its extraction process (1.3 HD) is very dangerous. Proper safety precaution should be taken to perform the said operation. Also, for a metal mandrel, it is very difficult to develop intricate grain geometry due to extraction problem. This paper mainly deals with casting techniques of propellants (case bonded or cartridge loaded) with a chemically collapsible mandrel. This mandrel is collapsed in presence of suitable chemicals, hence extraction step (1.3 HD) becomes simpler. As the extraction process is very easy, intricate grain geometry can be developed in solid rocket motor. The mandrel is cheap, recycleable and relatively lightweight compared to the metal mandrel, thus handling becomes very easy. The mandrel material and the dissolution solvent have no effect on the propellant, which will be confirmed by evaluation of physicochemical as well as ballistic properties measurement.