Estimation of Glucose and Galactose Content in a Natural Polysaccharide Isolated from Tubers of Colocasia Esculenta using a Validated RP-HPLC Method

Background: Nowadays, natural polysaccharides are preferred over synthetic polymers because they are biocompatible, cheap, and easily available than synthetic ones. The polysaccharide obtained from the tuber of the Colocasia esculenta was reported to exhibit many pharmaceutical applications as an excipient. Objective: The application of any polymer in formulating various dosage forms depends upon its qualitative and quantitative chemical composition. Therefore, in the current research work, the quantitative composition of the polysaccharide isolated from Colocasia esculenta was determined by the validated HPLC method. Methods: RP-HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent, Zorbax Eclipse XDB C8 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of citrate buffer of pH 5.5: Tetrahydrofuran: Acetonitrile (87.1:11.9:1 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. UV detection was performed at 307 nm. The method was validated for various parameters as per ICH guidelines. Results: The calibration curve constructed for glucose and galactose was found linear with correlation coefficients of 0.997 and 0.994, respectively. The system suitability parameters, such as theoretical plate, tailing factor, and relative standard deviation (RSD), were well within the limits. Solution stability data indicated that the solution was stable for 24 hours at 25°C. The watersoluble polysaccharide from Colocasia esculenta was found to contain glucose and galactose in the ratio 8:1. Conclusion: The validated RP-HPLC method was found to be specific, linear, precise, and accurate and can be successfully used for simultaneous estimation of glucose and galactose content in the polysaccharides.