Simple TLC-densitometric method for the quantification of asiaticoside in Centella asiatica from different origins for its standardization

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.) is one of the “Jamu Saintifik” ingredients that contains various active compounds, including asiaticoside. Asiaticoside content depends on several factors, such as the plant’s origin, age, and harvesting season. This study was conducted to analyze the concentration of asiaticoside in gotu kola crude drug obtained from nine different planting locations using a TLC-densitometer. The TLC used silica gel 60 F254 as the stationary phase, ethyl acetate-methanol-water (10:2.5:1) as the mobile phase, and anisaldehyde sulfuric acid as a derivatizing agent. The developed method met the specificity parameters, as characterized by the identical visible spectrum of the asiaticoside in the sample extract to that of the asiaticoside standard, with a maximum wavelength of 594 nm. The standard curve showed good linearity in the concentration range of 1.05–10.5 µg/band with an r-value of 0.989437. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.48820 and 1.47939 µg/band, respectively. This method was repeatable and precise, with relative standard deviations between 2.72 and 7.16% for intraday precision and 2.82% for interday precision. Except for two samples, all the asiaticoside concentrations were quantifiable and ranged between 0.53933 and 3.46866 mg/g of crude drugs. In conclusion, they vary across the C. asiatica samples collected from different origins in Indonesia. The gotu kola crude drugs obtained from Lombok Barat, Magelang, and Hulu Sungai Selatan have the highest asiaticoside content among the nine samples studied.