Pharmacognostic Specification and Rotenone Content in Derris elliptica Stems

Introduction: Derris elliptica (Wall.) Benth. (Leguminosae) is the tropical plant which has been used as natural poison as well as veterinary medicine due to its best-known phytochemical compound, rotenone to kill invertebrates and fish. However, there is no report on pharmacognostic specification and quantification of rotenone content from D. elliptica stems. Objective: This present study aimed to conduct the pharmacognostic parameters as well as to conduct the validated methods to quantify rotenone content in D. elliptica stems following WHO guideline. Methods: Dried D. elliptica stems from 15 different areas in Thailand were examined for pharmacognostic secification. Their rotenone contents were quantitatively analyzed by TLC densitometry using winCATS software as well as TLC-image analysis using ImageJ free software. Results: Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, TLC fingerprint and physicochemical parameters were reported in this study. The water content, loss on drying, total ash content and acidinsoluble ash content were determined to be 8.81±1.30, 5.77 ±0.92, 7.35±0.63, 1.221±0.20%, respectively. The ethanol, and water-soluble extractive values were found to be 4.07±1.23 and 11.31±1.68%, respectively. Additionally, the validation method for quantification of rotenone content was developed. The contents of rotenone in D. elliptica stem ethanolic extract evaluated by TLC-densitometry and TLC-image analysis were found to be 0.2870±0.1242 and 0.2844±0.1209% by dried weight, respectively. The result between these two analytical methods were shown no significant difference. Conclusion: The validated methods were able to effectively quantify rotenone content in D. elliptica stems from various locations in Thailand which could be used for the specification of this raw material with reference to its chemical marker. Thus, this study provides the necessary and adequate information for authentication and standardization of D. elliptica stems.