A rapid and highly sensitive UPLC-QTOF MS method for quantitative evaluation of Nardostachys jatamansi using Nardin as the marker.

Nardostachys jatamansi DC. is a highly reputed Medhya and Nootropic (Learning and Memory) Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Its use as herbal medicine singly and as an ingredient of multi-herbal formulations is fast increasing. In order to authenticate and evaluate it quantitatively, its standardization is highly warranted with respect to a reliable marker. In this connection a rapid and highly sensitive UPLC-QTOF MS method has been developed. The analysis was carried out on an Acquity BEH C(18) column with gradient elution of methanol-water and 3 mm ammonium acetate using QTOF mass detector in negative ionization mode. The method was validated over a concentration range of 9.76-156.25 ng/mL nardin. The calibration curve is linear with the correlation coefficient (r) and coefficient of determination (R(2)) were 0.9997 and 0.9995 respectively. The LOD and LOQ were 3.050 and 9.277 ng/mL respectively. The recovery of nardin in the range 96.36-111.13% achieved from spiked samples was consistent and reproducible. The inter-day and intra-day assay precision of the analytes over the entire concentration range was less than 5%. The developed method required only 4 min for chromatography to authenticate and quantify the marker, viz. nardin in N. jatamansi samples, in addition to the sample preparation time.