1Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune, Maharashtra, 411038, India
2*Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune, Maharashtra, 411038, India
Received: 19th Sep, 2025; Revised: 26th Oct, 2025; Accepted: 16th Nov, 2025; Available Online: 1st December, 2025
Currently, Spirulina microalgae has become the most popular nutraceutical food product. It is rich in macro as well as micronutrients. In the present study, among three species of spirulina, we have used two species (Spirulina platensis and Spirulina maxima). The objective of research was to develop and validate a quick High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography method to determine beta carotene (BC) in both Spirulina species. Method validation was performed using the parameters like linearity, detection limit (LOD), quantification limit (LOQ), precision, accuracy, and robustness with help of ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. A good separation and sharp peak of BC from both species of acetone extracts were obtained with mobile phase n-hexane: acetone: acetic acid (9: 1: 0.1, v/v/v). The retardation factor (Rf) of BC was observed 0.700 ± 0.2. The peak area was determined at wavelength 448nm. Good linearity was obtained in the range of 1000 - 3500 ng/band with correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9991. Detection limit and quantitation limit was found to be 381.11 ng/band and 976.89 ng/band respectively. Developed HPTLC method was found to be precise, accurate and robust. The marketed product was then analyzed using the method, and the % content for BC in the formulation was found to be 95.77% w/w.
Keywords: Spirulina platensis, Spirulina maxima, Beta carotene, HPTLC, Method development, Analytical.
How to cite this article: Yadav SS, Mali N, Dhikale K, Pardeshi R, Mane M. Quantitative Estimation of Beta-Carotene in Spirulina Species by HPTLC. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(1): 561-567; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.1.63
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None